Bilder Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles (1697–1763) – Map of the Coast of Guinea or the Gold Coast – Engraving (1746–1759)

Beskrivning

This engraving presents a detailed maritime and territorial chart of the West African coastline, titled Suite de la Coste de Guinee Depuis le Cap Apollonia jusqu'a la Riviere de Volta ou La Coste d'Or. The geographical scope covers the Gold Coast, illustrating the various sovereign territories and kingdoms of the interior, including the Royaume de Dinkira, the Pays d'Akanni, and the Roy de l'Assiante. The map meticulously details coastal features, river mouths, and European trading forts situated along the Gulf of Guinea. An ornate decorative cartouche in the lower right provides the title and indicates that the chart was drawn from the journals of navigators by the royal hydrographer. A second cartouche in the upper left contains a technical note regarding the geographical coordinates and the reliability of different source materials used in the map's construction. This illustration was featured in the monumental Histoire Generale des Voyages and served as an essential reference for eighteenth-century readers to visualize the complex political and commercial landscape of the African coast during the height of the transatlantic trade.

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 50 cm x 26 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.