Map of New Amsterdam

Vingboons based this map of New Amsterdam on the work of the resident surveyor Jacques Cortelyou, who in 1660 was tasked by the city government to map the city. This copy by Vingboons is the only surviving version of the map, which makes it the only detailed map of New Amsterdam before the English conquest of 1664. In literature about the early history of New Netherland and New Amsterdam, it is often simply referred to as the ‘Castello Map.’

The map shows the southern tip of Manhattan, with the Dutch fort, the various public buildings and the city wall (roughly where Wall Street now is).

North is right.

Part of the Carte di Castello, collected by Cosimo de Medici III in 1667 and 1669 during his tours through Europe. Cosimo III bought the 66 watercolours by Vingboons in December 1667 in Amsterdam, through mediation of Pieter Blaeu.