Bilder Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (1697–1763) – Map of Banda Islands in the Maluku – Engraving (1746–1759)

Beskrivning

This engraving presents a topographical map of the Banda Islands in the Maluku archipelago, titled Iles de Banda. The composition illustrates the volcanic island group, highlighting the central smoking peak of Gunung Api alongside the neighboring islands of Neira and Lontor. The map depicts various settlements, fortresses, and dense groves of nutmeg trees, which were the primary source of the region's wealth and global significance. A numbered key at the bottom identifies nine specific geographical locations, including Pulo-rin, Neira, and Ortaltaan, facilitating a technical understanding of the island's layout. This illustration was featured in the monumental Histoire Generale des Voyages and served as an essential visual reference for eighteenth-century readers to locate the strategic centers of the Dutch spice trade in the East Indies.

Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, commonly known as Abbé Prévost, was a prolific French author and journalist who made significant contributions to the Enlightenment-era dissemination of geographical knowledge. While famous for his literary work Manon Lescaut, he spent decades editing and translating the Histoire Generale des Voyages, a massive multi-volume encyclopedia of global exploration. This series synthesized centuries of travel accounts and cartographic data into a structured format, becoming an essential resource for the study of ethnography and colonial geography. Prévost's work allowed the French public to explore the world's diverse regions through detailed text and high-quality engravings, often based on the work of royal hydrographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, helping to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and popular curiosity during the eighteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles .

Dimensions: Approximately 32 cm x 25 cm .

Medium: Engraving .

Date: 1746–1759

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.