Antonio Zatta

Antonio Zatta was the most prominent Italian map publisher of the lat 18th and early 19th century.  His firm, based in Venice, produced maps that mark an important transition from the 18th to 19th century cartographic styles.  He updates and redefines the traditional title cartouche by replacing the mythic elements common to the 17th and 18th century with more representative images.

His 18th century depiction of New Zealand is regarded as the most beautiful map of New Zealand, it was published only eight years after Cook’s discoveries and is in fact based on Cook’s own map.  Stewart Island is shown attached to the South Island as Cook had not circumnavigated it.