1785 Zatta Map of the Philippines

Scarce map of the Philippines.

This is Antonio Zatta's elegant 1785 representation of the Philippine archipelago. It is based on the 1734 map of Pedro Murillo Velarde, S. J., considered the most important map in the history of the Philippines.

A Closer Look

Zatta hews closely to Velarde's map ('Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas…'), the first scientific map of the Philippines. The archipelago's hundreds of islands and islets are displayed with impressive accuracy, though less so 'at the margins,' as in the southwest, including the partial northern coast of Borneo. Other islands are in the correct location but misshapen, such as Marinduque, below Luzon and east of Mindoro, while other oddities reveal the still partial understanding of the islands' interiors, such as a very oversized 'Laguna di Mindanao' (Buluan Lake) and an unnamed interior lake (likely Lake Wood) on Mindanao at bottom-right.

Waterways, settlements, and administrative divisions (outlined in hand color) appear on land, while hazards and sand banks are marked out at sea. Notes throughout provide brief information on local indigenous peoples, history, means of travel, and more, such as the comment about St. Francis Xavier's (purported though unconfirmed) visit to Mindanao. A vibrantly-colored cartouche at top-right depicts a seaside scene.

Publication History and Census

This map was produced by Antionio Zatta 'and Sons' for his Atlante Novissimo. Perhaps a dozen examples of the atlas are cataloged in OCLC, while the map is independently cataloged by Cornell University and the University of British Columbia.

Cartographer

Antonio Zatta (1722 - February 16, 1804) was a Venetian printer and publisher whose illustrated books and atlases made him a leading figure in late 18th-century Italian publishing. Born in Venice into a printing family active since 1656, he attempted to relocate to Rovereto in 1752, but Venetian authorities blocked the move. The merchant Amedeo Svajer financed his early ventures. His connections with the Jesuits, including publications defending the order under false imprints (1760 - 1761), attracted controversy, although these ties weakened during the 1760s. Geography became a major undertaking: he published Anton Friedrich Büsching's Nuova geografia in 34 volumes (1773 - 1782), followed by the four-volume Atlante novissimo, illustrato ed accresciuto (1779 - 1785), comprising approximately 240 maps. Portions appeared separately, notably Le colonie unite dell'America settentr.le, an Italian adaptation of John Mitchell's 1755 map. His geographical publications also included Cook's voyages (1794 - 1795) and the map-illustrated political periodical Prospetto degli affari attuali dell'Europa (1788 - 1801). Beyond cartography, he published literature, medicine, and Buffon's natural history (1782 - 1791), cultivating collaborations with leading Venetian illustrators and engravers. His sons Giacomo and Giovanni joined the business in 1783; the printing house closed shortly after his death.   Further Details...

Source

Zatta A., Atlante Novissimo, (Venice) 1785.    

Condition

Good. Soiling in margins and near border.

References

OCLC 606379747.