Bilder Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) – Map of the East Coast of Africa (Carte de la Coste Orientale d'Afrique) – Copperplate engraving (1740)

Beskrivning

This maritime chart focuses on the eastern coastline of Africa, covering the region from the 13th degree of Southern latitude to the 14th degree of Northern latitude. The geography spans from the coast of Zanzibar (Zanguebar) in the south, through the territory of Ajan (Muni Muji Ajan), up to the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb and the entrance to the Red Sea. Significant islands such as Socotra and the Comoros are depicted, along with key ports including Mombasa, Melinde, and Magadoxo. The map is oriented by a central compass rose with radiating rhumb lines across the Indian Ocean. 

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin was a preeminent French hydrographer and geographer who served as the official cartographer to the French Navy for over five decades. He was a founding member of the Académie de Marine and a fellow of the Royal Society of London, earning high acclaim for his systematic approach to maritime charting. Bellin was responsible for the monumental "Petit Atlas Maritime" and provided hundreds of maps for the "Histoire Générale des Voyages," which served as the primary source of geographical knowledge for the French Enlightenment. His maps are celebrated for their technical accuracy and their role in documenting the expanding European understanding of global coastlines and navigation routes during the 18th century.

Artist or Maker:
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.

Dimensions:
Approximately 31 cm x 24 cm.

Medium:
Copperplate engraving.

Date:
1740.

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.