Antique Map of Riouw in Singapore by Dornseiffen, 1884

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This finely detailed antique map depicts the Riouw–Lingga Archipelago (Riau–Lingga), including Batam, Bintan, Lingga, Singkep, and the surrounding island groups … Read more This finely detailed antique map depicts the Riouw–Lingga Archipelago (Riau–Lingga), including Batam, Bintan, Lingga, Singkep, and the surrounding island groups lying between Singapore, Sumatra, and the South China Sea. Issued as part of the official late-19th-century Dutch colonial survey series, this important cartographic work was designed by J. Dornseiffen and published in Amsterdam by Seyffardt’s Boekhandel in 1884. The sheet also includes a large secondary map of Ambon, the Oeliasers, and the Banda Islands, making this a highly desirable dual-region composition. The Riouw–Lingga section shows an exceptionally dense maze of islands, straits, anchorages, rivers, and settlements, engraved with scientific precision. Batam and Bintan appear prominently near Singapore, underscoring the long-standing geopolitical importance of this maritime corridor. Original hand coloring distinguishes administrative divisions with clarity and elegance.

The companion Ambon–Banda map charts one of the most historically significant spice-producing zones on earth, including Banda Neira and its surrounding islands, isolated in the Banda Sea. Historically, both regions were of immense strategic and economic value to Dutch colonial power. The Riouw–Lingga Archipelago controlled vital shipping routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, while Ambon and Banda formed the very core of the global nutmeg and clove monopoly that built the Dutch East India Company’s fortunes. By 1884, when Dornseiffen produced this map, these zones were fully integrated into a centralized colonial state, and the map reflects that mature phase of imperial governance through fixed borders and detailed inland surveying. Visually, this sheet is exceptionally elegant and complex. The contrast between the densely clustered Riouw archipelagos and the open Banda Sea surrounding Ambon creates a dynamic and well-balanced composition. Subtle pastel coloring, crisp engraving, and refined typography give the map great decorative authority while preserving its scientific character. It works beautifully as a standalone statement piece or as part of a larger Dornseiffen wall ensemble. This map is increasingly sought after by collectors of Indonesian history, Singapore-related cartography, Dutch East Indies maritime heritage, and VOC-era spice trade material. The inclusion of both the Riouw–Lingga gateway and the Ambon–Banda spice core on one sheet makes this an especially desirable crossover piece for high-level collections.

Condition report: Good antique condition. Light general age toning consistent with 19th-century paper. Scattered foxing visible, mainly in the open sea areas and margins. Clear plate impressions present. Full margins preserved. No major tears or losses observed.

Technique: Hand-colored lithograph Maker: J. Dornseiffen, Amsterdam, 1884 (published by Seyffardt’s Boekhandel) See less