{"product_id":"van-keulen-gambia-river-sea-chart-c1683","title":"Van Keulen — Sea Chart of the Gambia River c.1683 (Rare Hand-Colored)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVan Keulen — Sea Chart of the Gambia River c.1683 (Rare Hand-Colored)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTitled \u003cem\u003ePas Caarte van Rio Gambia van C. Verde tot Rio de Serraliones\u003c\/em\u003e, this chart depicts the coast of West Africa from Cape Verde southward to the Sierra Leone River, with the interior courses of the Gambia and Casamance rivers, sounding depths, sandbanks, and shoals. Oriented to the east (a convention of period sea charts), with ornamental figurative and sea-mileage cartouches, a sailing ship, and two compass roses. Reference: Koeman, Keu 139, first state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout The Van Keulen Family (active 1678–1885)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Van Keulen family operated the most important Dutch nautical publishing firm for more than two centuries. Founded by Johannes van Keulen I (1654–1715) in Amsterdam in 1678 at the house \"De Gekroonde Lootsman\" (The Crowned Pilot), the firm was continued by his son Gerard (1678–1726), appointed official hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company in 1714 — a position the Van Keulens held until the VOC's liquidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Work\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDe Nieuwe Groote Lichtende Zee-Fakkel\u003c\/em\u003e (\"The New Great Illuminating Sea Torch\") was published in five volumes 1681–1685, later expanded to six volumes in 1753 covering the East Indies. The firm produced working sea charts for Dutch merchant and naval navigators worldwide, from West Africa to Japan. Charts are distinguished by figurative title cartouches, distance-scale cartouches, and decorative compass roses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eScarcity \u0026amp; Market Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfrican coast charts (Gambia, Senegal, Morocco, Angola) are particularly scarce in the private market with original hand-coloring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInstitutional Holdings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComplete copies at the Maritime Museum (Rotterdam), the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the British Library, and major East India Company archives worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSheet approximately 20 × 23 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrame:\u003c\/strong\u003e This piece ships \u003cstrong\u003eunframed\u003c\/strong\u003e — the sheet or plate only. We can recommend framers in your area or ship to your preferred framer. Professional framing with archival materials typically runs $150–$400 depending on size and finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShipping Terms\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping costs vary by product, packaging requirements, destination, carrier, and insurance value.\u003c\/strong\u003e We do not use flat-rate shipping because antique prints, maps, paintings, and books each require different packing — some ship flat between archival boards, some ship rolled, some require custom-built crates with shock absorption, and framed pieces need extra protection for glass and corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow our shipping process works:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou place your order (shipping is calculated as $0 at checkout)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe prepare a custom shipping quote for your destination — typically within 24 hours\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe contact you to confirm carrier options (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL), insurance value, and delivery timeline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce you approve the shipping quote, we send a separate invoice for shipping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe pack with archival-grade materials and insure at full value\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuestions on shipping before you buy? Contact us with your zip code (or international address) and we'll provide a quote before you commit to purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eImportant Buyer Notice\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese pieces are \u003cstrong\u003eantique originals\u003c\/strong\u003e, ranging from approximately 100 to over 400 years old. Each piece will show varying degrees of age-appropriate condition: paper toning, foxing, edge wear, fold marks, minor restoration, light staining, and other natural signs of age are common and expected for works of this period. Condition varies from piece to piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is the buyer's responsibility to confirm that the piece is in the condition they require before purchase.\u003c\/strong\u003e We are always happy to answer any questions about the state of the work, provide additional photographs of specific areas, describe any flaws or repairs in detail, or arrange a video review before you buy. Please contact us at any time with questions — we believe an informed buyer is the best customer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll pieces are guaranteed \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic originals\u003c\/strong\u003e (not reproductions, facsimiles, or modern prints). We offer a full refund if authenticity is ever disputed by a qualified third party.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EldrickCo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43253386870873,"sku":"EC-VK-0002","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/3089\/3657\/files\/van-keulen-gambia-river-sea-chart-c1683.jpg?v=1776986971","url":"https:\/\/eldrickco.com\/products\/van-keulen-gambia-river-sea-chart-c1683","provider":"Eldrick LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}