This sea chart of the Atlantic Ocean coastlines of the American continent was engraved for Arnold Colom’s ‘Zee-Atlas’ published in Amsterdam c.1658. “It is derived from that of Theunis Jacobsz, c.1650. Its objective was to present in atlas form the most desirable information from the ‘West Indische Paskaert’ maps of Willem Blaeu. These charts had previously been sold as loose sheets, be they either manuscript or printed. Trusted names of the past appear such as ‘Noortriver’ and ‘Fort Nassau’.” (Burden). In rapid succession alterations were made to the plate. Three ensuing states would be issued by Hendrick Doncker. This is an example of the second state bearing the date 1656 in the title and new placenames are added to New England.

Arnold Colom (1623/4-68) was the son of Jacob Aerstz. Colom (1600-73) from Dordrecht, a printer and publisher of maps, globes, and books. “Father and son appear to have followed separate careers at first, Arnold producing his own independent atlases. In fact, his world atlas was published before that of his father. The first Dutch sea atlas of the world was Joannes Janssonius’ of 1650. However, that atlas was not particularly uniform or complete. Colom’s was large in format and is one of the most important of all the Dutch sea atlases produced. Burden (1996) 321; Koeman (1967) vol. 4 pp. 114-17; The A. E. Nordenskiöld Collection (1979) no. 53; Phillips (1909-) nos. 464, 480 & 3330.