This state between the first and the second of this rare world map, mentions in the cartouche Gerard van Keulen as a Publisher. At the bottom right in the plate is the address of Gerard van Keulen and is not yet removed of the plate. The map goes back to the first edition of Frederick de Wit, which appeared as a combined etching/engraving in 1668 in his Atlas of the seas ‘Orbis Martimus’ with splendid decorations designed by Romeyn de Hooghe. In 1680 Justus Danckert brought an addition on the market. Not much later, probably in 1682, Van Schagen engraved  his version. Later editions of van Ottens (1730) en Renand would follow.

Gerard van Schagen was from 1677 employed as etcher, draughtsman and art dealer in the ‘Haarlemmer-straat bij de Nieuwe-Haarlemmersluijs,’ where he suspended the sign ‘in de stuurman.’ Presumably he was born around 1642. He is mentioned for the last time on 29 September 1690 at the funeral of his wife Gertruij Govers van Schendel.

His oeuvre contains only copies to other mapmakers as Nicolaas Visscher and Frederick de Wit. The technical qualities of his engravings were generally excellent. Due to this fact making imprints of his copper plates in the 18th century — be it sparingly, in custom form and with new publishers’ names-can be found again. Known to have printed his copper plates are Pieter van der Aa, Covens & Mortier and Joshua Ottens.

This map of the world was in 1682 included in the English edition of his Atlas of the seas and came to be known under the title; ‘ The Great and Newly Enlarged Sea Atlas or Water world. ‘

The copy in the collection of the maritime museum, Rotterdam is the only Van Schagen-world map with his address ‘ ex officina ‘ in the cartouche. In the Dutch edition of a year later is chosen for a world map by Johannes de Ram, Novissima Terrarum Orbis Tabula. In the course of the years 1680 to Gerard van Schagen had the intention to publish his own maritime Atlas.

The library of Amsterdam preserves the so-called ‘ Atlas by Schagen ‘-purchased in 2001-in which 18 of his own maps are included, including the world map. The map was also issued by Van Schagen himself as a set with 4 continent charts.

Gerard van Keulen succeeded his father John Gerard on as a publisher of nautical publications. He gave the company its scientific basis, to which his father did not have the qualifications. The first maps under his name appear at 1698.