Bilder Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) – Map of Southeast Asia - the Island of Sumatra / Carte de L'Isle de Sumatra – Map (1749)

Beskrivning

This detailed nautical chart depicts the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, along with the surrounding maritime area, including the important Strait of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore (Detroit de Sincapour). The map details coastal features, depth soundings, and various indigenous and European settlements, highlighting the island's strategic position in the East Indies trade network. An elaborate decorative cartouche contains the map’s title, confirming that it was drawn from the logs of navigators and the French Marine Department’s manuscript charts.

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin was the most influential French cartographer of the 18th century, serving as the Hydrographer to the French Navy. His emphasis on scientific precision defined French cartography during the Enlightenment. This map is an plate created by Bellin for the massive travel and geography encyclopedia, Histoire Générale des Voyages, edited by Abbé Antoine François Prévost, which systematically documented the world’s coastal and global regions from 1746 onward.

Artist or Maker: Jacques-Nicolas Bellin

Dimensions:  Approximately 26 cm × 32 cm 

Medium: Engraving

Date: 1749

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.