Map of Batavia - Bellin c.1770

Kaart van de Buitenstreeken van Batavia (Carte des Environs de Batavia) Drawn/Published by: Jacques-Nicolas Bellin Engraved by: Jacobus van Schley Published in: Amsterdam by Harrevelt & Changuion (rare Amsterdam edition) Year: c. 1770–1773 From: L'Histoire Générale des Voyages (Atlas de Cartes) Condition: Original hand-coloured copper engraving; featuring a vibrant decorative title cartouche. A Meticulous Survey of the Batavia Frontier This fine 18th-century engraving by the premier French hydrographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin provides a detailed landscape of the outskirts of Batavia (modern-day Jakarta). While many period maps focus solely on the city’s fortified grid, this chart documents the surrounding agricultural and industrial zones that powered the "Queen of the East". The Colonial Engine: Rice and Sugar The map is particularly noted for its clear demarcation of the vast plantations that defined the region's economy: Champ de Riz (Rice Fields): Extensive areas marked in green, highlighting the critical food production for the Dutch settlement. Cannes de Sucre (Sugar Cane): Large tracts of pale red, documenting the sugar industry that was a primary driver of Dutch East India Company (VOC) wealth in the 1700s. Early Jakarta Reference: The map includes an early cartographic reference to Jacatra (Jakarta), tracing the city's transition from its indigenous roots to a fortified Dutch colonial hub. Artistic and Technical Details Produced during Bellin's tenure at the French Hydrographic Service, the map exhibits the scientific precision and elegant aesthetic of the French school. It features: Bilingual Title: The map is titled in both French (Carte des Environs de Batavia) and Dutch (Kaart van de Buitenstreeken van Batavia). Decorative Cartouche: A rococo-style title cartouche in the upper left, adorned with floral swags and architectural flourishes. Strategic Detail: The plan includes river systems (such as the Ankee), local villages like Noordwyk, and various guard posts (Corps de Garde) that protected the agricultural frontier.