ABOUT THE WORK

Herrera served as a writer and official historian to the King of Spain and compiled this history of the Indies accompanied by maps of the West Indies and Central and South America. This is the only specific map on the Philippines and of eminent importance as Luzon is not shown as an island, only as an outline but other Philippine islands are named, including the imaginary island of San Juan (St. John), to the Northeast of Mindanao in the actual position of Siargao and which should continue to appear in future maps till even the 19th century. The author and cartographer Herrera used this term rather than “East Indies” as his viewpoint is from the Americas looking westward. This important map is mentioned by Quirino in his Philippine Cartography and Suárez and is listed in Sabin 31539, 31544; and Lietz: Insulae Indiae Orientalis.