1765 Bonne Map of West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, and Benin

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Title:    Carte Generale de la Coste de Guinee Depuis la Riviere de Sierra Leona jusqu'au Cap de Lopes Gonsalvo Pour servir Aus Vaisseaux du Roy Dressee au Depost des Cartes et Plans de la Marine Par Ordre de M. Rouille Dhr. Comte de Jouy & ca. Secretaire d' Etat ayant le Departement de la Marine.

Description:    This is a rare and attractive 1865 J. N. Bellin nautical chart or map of West Africa. Depicts the African coast from Sierra Leone south past the Bay of Benin and the Gulf of Guinea to Cape Lopez. This roughly consists of the modern day nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Offers superb costal detail with most major ports, and rivers listed. Depth soundings dot the coast and rumb-lines fill the sea. To the left and right of the decorative central title cartouche there are eight coastal views. Prepared by Jacques Nicholas Bellin for issue in 1865 by the French Depot de la Marine.

Date:    1765 (dated)

References:    Phillips (Atlases) #587.

Cartographer:    Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703 - 1772) is one of the most important cartographers of the 18th century. With a career spanning some 50 years, Bellin is an important transitional cartographer. His long career as "hydrographer" and "Ingénieur Hydrographe" to the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine resulted in the completion of hundreds of high quality nautical charts of practically everywhere in the world. Bellin's work focuses on accuracy and tends to be less decorative than the earlier 17th and 18th century work of predecessors such as Homann. In addition to numerous works published during his lifetime, many of his maps were published posthumously. He was succeeded in his position by student Rigobert Bonne. Click here for a list of rare maps from Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.

Size:   Printed area measures 35 x 21.5 inches (88.9 x 54.61 centimeters)

Condition:    Very good condition. Hand color. Platemark visible. Wide clean margins. Original centerfold. Blank on verso.

Code:   GulfofGuinee-bellin-1765 (Necessary for phone inquiries: 646-320-8650)