1757 Bellin Map of South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope

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Title:    Das Land der Hottentoten an dem Vorgebrige der guten Hoffnung.

Description:    A very scarce example of Bellin’s 1747 map of southern Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. Covers from the Bay of St. Helena to Mussel Bay. Dutch settlements appear along the coast line with African tribal regions dominating the interior. Features excellent geographical detail, referencing swamps, mountains, forests and rivers. While the French edition of this map appears with some regularity, this, the German edition, is extremely rare. Compared to the French and Italian editions it is printed on much heavier stock and has a much darker impression. From the German edition of Provost’s Voyages, edited and published by Johann Joachim Schwabe, Allgemeine Historie der Reisen zu Wasser und zu Lande (General History of Travel over Water and Land) .

Date:    c. 1747 (undated)

Source:    Johann Joachim Schwabe, Allgemeine Historie der Reisen zu Wasser und zu Lande, c. 1747.

References:    None found.

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 13.5 x 9.5 inches (34.29 x 24.13 centimeters)

Condition:    Good conditon. Original folds. Minor old verso repair on the left margin in extending slightly into the map, lower left quadrant. Older verso reinforcemtn on original fold line in lower right quadrant.

Code:   Hottentoten-bellin-1757 (Necessary for phone inquiries: 646-320-8650)