Aracam (Arakan)
Cartographer / Artist: Petrus Kaerius (Peter van den Keere)
Date Created: c. 1600
Medium: Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Physical Dimensions: 6.75 × 4.25 inches
Geographic Scope: Arakan (Rakhine State), Myanmar (Burma)
Archive Catalog ID: fp9-img-2233
Provenance: The Dr. Joseph R. Rubini Archive
Collection: Renaissance & Classical European Cartography
This miniature engraved map depicts the Kingdom of Arakan (Aracam) along with neighboring regions including Pegu, Siam, Ava, and parts of eastern India along the Bay of Bengal. Engraved by the celebrated Dutch cartographer Petrus Kaerius (Peter van den Keere), the print originally featured in pioneer pocket atlases issued by publishers Barent Langenes and Petrus Bertius at the turn of the seventeenth century. Oriented with East at the top (Oriens), the map features a decorative strapwork title cartouche in the upper left corner containing the map title, distance scale in Spanish miles, and the engraver's signature 'Petrus Kaerius caelavit'. Elaborate topography, major river systems, mountain ranges, and coastal islands are depicted in fine detail with period hand coloring in green, red, and yellow wash tones.
Condition: Overall good condition with light age toning and minor margin wear along the top edge.. Prominent show-through (bleed-through) of the Latin letterpress text printed on the verso.. Fine hand coloring with early ink and pencil manuscript shelf marks in the margins.




