Donicker, Hendrick. Pas caert vande Caribische Eylanden. Amsterdam, 1672. [West Indies]

Donicker, Hendrick

Pas caert vande Caribische Eylanden

Amsterdam, 1672

20 1/2" x 23 1/2"

This detailed sea chart of the Caribbean islands, created by the prominent Dutch cartographer Hendrick Doncker, reflects the critical importance of the Caribbean as a center of European maritime activity and colonial rivalry in the 17th century. Covering key islands such as Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Lesser Antilles, the map was designed for navigational use, emphasizing coastal details, ports, and sailing routes vital to merchants and explorers.

Doncker’s Pas caert highlights the strategic role of the Caribbean in the global trade networks of the time, particularly for sugar, tobacco, and other lucrative commodities. The map’s precise engraving and clear layout exemplify the craftsmanship of Dutch sea charts, which were essential tools for navigating these contested waters during the height of European colonial expansion.

As a practical and historically significant document, this map offers insight into the maritime focus of the Dutch Golden Age and the economic and political struggles that defined the Caribbean in the 17th century.