Cartographic History of the Arabian Gulf with the name “"Sinus Arabicus" in 1625

Jocodus Hondius

Posters, Broadsides, Prints, Maps, &

Jocodus Hondius. "Persicum Regnum" Antique map, London, circa 1625. This bold map gives us the representation of Persia but unlike most maps of the last 500 years the Gulf region is not named "Sinus Persicus" but is titled "Sinus Arabicus," or Arabian Channel. This makes this map a scarce find. Produced in London during an era of intensified maritime trade through the Strait of Ormus and the rise of English East India Company activity, the map supports research in early modern cartography, imperial commerce, and the historical geopolitics of Gulf naming conventions.

Hondius, Jodocus. Persicum Regnum. London, circa 1625. Engraved map printed on a page with English text; text also on verso. Map image approximately 5.5 x 7.5 inches; sheet approximately 11 x 7 inches. The map depicts Persia with the Caspian Sea rendered in a pronounced horizontal orientation characteristic of early seventeenth-century geographic understanding. The Gulf is labeled “Sinus Arabicus,” a notable departure from the more typical “Sinus Persicus,” while the Strait of Ormus is clearly identified, underscoring its strategic maritime importance. As expected in cartography of this date, the Qatar peninsula is absent or only indistinctly suggested. Title and scale appear within decorative cartouches, reflecting the ornamental conventions of Dutch-influenced English atlas production. Issued during a period when European powers were consolidating commercial footholds in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, the map embodies the intersection of geographic knowledge, mercantile ambition, and imperial rivalry. The alternative Gulf nomenclature enhances its interpretive significance within the long historical debate over regional naming, while the depiction of Ormus reflects contemporary recognition of its strategic value in global trade networks. Minor age-related toning; light wear at margins consistent with atlas extraction; engraved image clear and well-defined. Overall very good condition. A historically significant early modern map of Persia notable for its variant Gulf designation and its representation of seventeenth-century geographic knowledge.

Item #14766

Price: $1,250.00