Malta, with an inset of Valetta, by F. de Wit. c. 1680
Frederick de Wit (1630-1706)
The engraver and map-seller, Frederick de Wit, was born in Gouda (Netherlands) in 1630 as a son of Hendrick Fredericksz de Wit. Through his marriage with Maria van der Waag of Amsterdam in 1661, he obtained citizenship of the city where he had been working since 1648 and where he became one of the most famous engravers of maps of the second half of the 17th century. Although De Wit was a Catholic, which meant that he was not favoured at the time by the city council, he was awarded the honour of being listed as one of the "excellent citizens" on the roll of the city council in the years 1694-1704. However, his name was not written in the Guild of St. Luke book before 1664. At that time, he lived on the Kalverstraat "in de Witte Pascaert", where he stayed until his death in 1706. His earliest dates on maps engraved are 1659 (Regni Daniae) and 1660 (World map).
Frederick de Wit published several world atlases, a sea atlas, and an atlas of the Netherlands.
The dating of the maps is difficult. However, as a privilege was granted in 1689, the annotation 'cum privilegio' marks an edition after 1688.
Around 1700, Frederick de Wit entered the market with a town atlas. He produced two volumes with a total of 260 plans and views. Most were printed from plates used for Janssonius and Blaeu town atlases.
After he died in 1706, his widow continued the shop until 1709. The plates and stock of De Wit's atlas were sold to Covens & Mortier in 1710, who sold the atlas for an extended period.
Insula Malta Accuratissime Delineata, Urbibus et Fortalitiis
Item Number: 24385 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Mediterranean Sea
Antique map of Malta with an inset of Valetta, by F. de Wit.
This map covers the region from southern Sicily in the North to the African coast in the south.
Title: Insula Malta Accuratissime Delineata, Urbibus et Fortalitiis
Date: c. 1680.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 440 x 550mm (17.32 x 21.65 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Old coloured, excellent.
Condition Rating: A.
From: Composite Atlas by F. De Wit, c. 1680.
Frederick de Wit (1630-1706)
The engraver and map-seller, Frederick de Wit, was born in Gouda (Netherlands) in 1630 as a son of Hendrick Fredericksz de Wit. Through his marriage with Maria van der Waag of Amsterdam in 1661, he obtained citizenship of the city where he had been working since 1648 and where he became one of the most famous engravers of maps of the second half of the 17th century. Although De Wit was a Catholic, which meant that he was not favoured at the time by the city council, he was awarded the honour of being listed as one of the "excellent citizens" on the roll of the city council in the years 1694-1704. However, his name was not written in the Guild of St. Luke book before 1664. At that time, he lived on the Kalverstraat "in de Witte Pascaert", where he stayed until his death in 1706. His earliest dates on maps engraved are 1659 (Regni Daniae) and 1660 (World map).
Frederick de Wit published several world atlases, a sea atlas, and an atlas of the Netherlands.
The dating of the maps is difficult. However, as a privilege was granted in 1689, the annotation 'cum privilegio' marks an edition after 1688.
Around 1700, Frederick de Wit entered the market with a town atlas. He produced two volumes with a total of 260 plans and views. Most were printed from plates used for Janssonius and Blaeu town atlases.
After he died in 1706, his widow continued the shop until 1709. The plates and stock of De Wit's atlas were sold to Covens & Mortier in 1710, who sold the atlas for an extended period.
Related items
Nieuwe Pascaart Voor een Gedeelte van de Zeekusten van Barbaria ... 1697-1709
Sea chart of the coasts of Morocco, by Johannes Van Keulen.
[Item number: 9775]
Insula sive Regnum Siciliae Urbibus praecipuis exornatum c. 1682
Sicily by Frederick de Wit.
[Item number: 24517]
Creta Iovis magni, medio iacet insula ponto. Ex conatibus geographicis Abrahami Ortelij. [On sheet with:] Corsica [and:] Insulae Maris Ionii [and:] Sardinia 1624
Crete, Corsica and Sardinia by Ortelius A.
[Item number: 2052]
Parergon map
Insular. aliquot Aegaei Maris Antiqua Descrip. 1601
Cyprus & other Greek Islands by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 12452]
Insularum Melitae vulgo Maltae et Gozae Novissima Delineatio. c. 1700
Malta & Gozo, by N. Visscher, published by P. Schenk.
[Item number: 25697]
Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio. 1612
Sicily, Sardinia, Corfu, Djerba, Elba, Malta by Abraham Ortelius
[Item number: 20929]
Calaris [on sheet with] Malta [and] Rhodus [and] Famagusta. 1612
Cagliari - Malta - Rhodos - Famagusta, by Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg.
[Item number: 26910]
Nieuwe Pascaart voor een Gedeelte van de Zeekusten van Barbaria Beginnende van C. Mesurata tot Caap Rusato Als mede de West-kust van Candia. 1697-1709
Sea chart of the coasts of Morocco, by Johannes Van Keulen.
[Item number: 6506]
Insularum Melitae vulgo Maltae et Gozae. c. 1680
Malta & Gozo, by Nicolaes Visscher I.
[Item number: 28578]
Isola di Malta olim Melita. 1696
Malta by Vincenzo Coronelli.
[Item number: 28817]