Carte Hydrographique and Chorographique des isles Philippines

George Maurice Lowitz published by Homann Heirs
Nuremberg, 1760
colored
38” x 21 1/2” (97 cm x 55 cm)

Lowitz’s map is the first reasonably obtainable large format map of the Philippines. It is based upon the map of Father Pedro Murillo Velarde. Pedro Murillo de Velarde was a Spanish Jesuit priest, historian and cartographer. In 1734 in Manila he produced the most accurate map of the Philippines to date.

Not only does this map offer a fantastically detailed look at the islands, the map even includes the route of Ferdinand Magellan through the islands in 1521, identifying each of his landings along the way.

Unlike many other maps after Velarde, this map provides detailed information on the origin of the Velarde map, including the names of the original Filipino artists who worked on the Murillo map, namely Francisco Suarez and Nicholas de la Cruz Bagay. Another cartouche at the bottom left gives a short history of the Philippine Islands, beginning with the arrival of Magellan and Legazpi, just like what is found on the original Velarde map.