1725 Renneville Map of the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego

An imaginative depiction of the Strait of Magellan.

This is a decorative 1725 map of the Strait of Magellan published by René-Auguste-Constantin de Renneville to illustrate his narrative of Joris van Spilbergen's 1615 navigation to the Pacific. Spilbergen's was part of a broader effort to undermine Spanish dominance over the Pacific, then still known as the 'Spanish Sea'.

A Closer Look

The southern-oriented map illustrates the treacherous Strait and Spilbergen's experience there. Of the six ships illustrated, one is engulfed in flames, the result of a mutiny on the eastern entrance of the Strait. The 5 remaining ships make their passage westward past mountains and indigenous huts. The scenery is misleadingly lush and tropical, with jackfruit and palm trees standing in stark contrast to what we know of the region today. Cartographically, this map is derived from a less decorative map issued in De Bry's Grandes Voyages.

Conrol Over the Spanish Sea

In 1615-16, Dutch admiral Joris van Spilbergen (1568 - 1620) successfully navigated the Straits of Magellan, the treacherous maritime passage at the southern tip of South America, as part of a Dutch expedition aimed at challenging Spanish dominance in the Pacific. Spilbergen's voyage was part of a broader Dutch strategy during the Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648) to disrupt Spanish trade and assert global naval power. Despite harsh weather, shifting currents, and poor maps, he skillfully led his fleet through the narrow, winding Strait - an impressive feat given the era's navigational limitations. After emerging into the Pacific, he continued northward along the Chilean and Peruvian coasts, engaging Spanish forces and raiding colonial ports. His successful passage through the straits underscored Dutch seafaring prowess and furthered their ambitions for a global maritime empire.

Publication History and Census

This map was for inclusion in the 1725 edition of Rene Augustin Constantin De Renneville's Recueil des Voyages qui Ont Servi a l'Establissement et aux Progrez de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales Formee dans les Provinces-Unies des Pais-Bas. A different plate was engraved for the 1702/1705 edition of the work. All editions are scarce both on the market and in institutional catalogs.

Cartographer

René Auguste Constantin de Renneville (October 9, 1650 - March 13, 1723), was a French Protestant scholar and historian. He was born at Caen, but because of his Protestant faith, Renneville fled France for the more tolerant Netherlands in 1699. On his return three years later he was denounced as a spy and imprisoned in the Bastille, where he remained until 1713. Renneville was freed through the intercession of Queen Anne, and made his way to England. There he wrote his Histoire de la Bastille, most likely his most significant work. From a cartographic perspective, however, his other important work, Recueil des voyages qui ont servi a l'etablissement de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales aux Provinces Unies is far more significant. At the time of his death in 1723 Renneville was a major of artillery in the service of the elector of Hesse.   Further Details...

Source

Renneville, Constantin de, Recueil des voyages qui ont servi a l'établissement de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales aux Provinces Unies, 1725.    

Condition

Excellent.

References

cf. OCLC 71534756.