A detailed portolan chart or nautical map from 1591 illustrates the coastlines of Europe, North Africa, and the British Isles. The map is crisscrossed by a dense web of rhumb lines originating from nine decorative compass roses distributed across the sea areas. Large sailing vessels, known as galleons, and various sea creatures are illustrated in the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea. Elaborate coats of arms represent major powers, including the Spanish Empire, France, England, and Sweden. The far-left border features a decorative vertical scale bar topped with an animal resembling a rhinoceros, with a seated human figure at the base. Coastal names for hundreds of ports are written in small script perpendicular to the coastlines. A large, ornate cartouche with Dutch text sits in the bottom-left corner.

AFRICA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

FRENCH EMPIRE

ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

IRELAND

NORTH SEA

NORWAY

SWEDEN

FINLAND

The General Nautical Chart by the renowned

Adriaen Gerritsen from Enkhuizen, helmsman

and pilot / improved according to the usage

of these times.

Very accurate and reliable

throughout all of Europe.

And now first published by

Cornelis Claesz in Am-

sterdam. With privilege for

ten years. Anno 1591.

Now newly published by

Cornelis Claesz on the Water

at the Writing-book.

Major Regions and Cities:

ICELAND
LAND OF LAPLAND
Livonia
Prussia
Mecklenburg
HOLLAND
FLANDERS
LISBON
SEVILLE
MALAGA
ALMERIA
CARTAGENA
VALENCIA
BARCELONA
MARSEILLE
GENOA
ROME
SARDINIA
CORSICA
SICILY
ORAN
ALGIERS
CEUTA