London 1787

Fascinating English Wall Map of Africa from the late 1700s:   AFRICA, WITH ALL ITS STATES, KINGDOMS, REPUBLICS, REGIONS, ISLANDS &c. IMPROVED and ENLARGED from D'ANVILLE's MAP: to which have been Added A PARTICULAR CHART OF THE GOLD COAST, wherein are Distinquished all the European Forts and Factories by S. Boulton and also a summary description relative to the trade and natural produce, manners and customs of the African continent and islands.. London Printed for Robert Sayer, Fleet Street as the Act directs 6 Jan. 1787.

Original copperplate printed map: Four map sheets joined into two mapsheets (may be assembled into one large wallmap):  103.5 x 122  cm.(2 sheets in in total) 

$1,800
 

Maps #AAF-289
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A fascinating, late 18^th century wall map of Africa based on the large format map by Jean Baptiste d’Anville, one of France's greatest cartographers.  D'Anville was the cartographic successor to Guillaume Delise in that he maintained the rigorous standard for accuracy that Delisle had established. D'Anville was probably the last French mapmaker to establish a reputation superior to all his contemporaries, as witnessed by the respect shown by English cartographers in citing D’Anville as the primary source during an era when the two countries were often at war and always hostile to one another.  We believe this Boulton to be the same Solomon Bolton, who was the mapmaker for Africa Performed by the Sr. Danville under the Patronage... of 1752 and 1774.

The map is literally filled with geographic and ethnographic information on Africa and its people. The map was issued when the European expansion into Africa had just begun.  By this time there were numerous fort and factories (trading posts) on the western, southern and southeastern coasts representing various European nations, but there had been almost no penetration of the interior (these European `forts & factories' on the Gold Coast are shown in detail on Boulton's inset map).  In a few short years after this map was produced, the English seized Cape Town and begun their own exploration into the interior south the south and east culminating in the mid-1800s discoveries of Victoria Falls, the White Nile River, etc.  The map has a number of text boxes with descriptions of each area and its peoples.  The peoples of Africa proved much more diverse and intriguing than ever imagined, and some of the discoveries in this regard are included in the extensive texts that are interspersed amongst the geographic features shown on the map.  Within central Southern Africa, you can find a reference to "The Kingdom of Climbera or Mataman - most geographers place this Kingdom hereabouts but it is Imaginary" Further North, one can find the Mumbos "who are Man-eaters"  A large portion of the map to the West of Southern Africa is taken up with a panel which discusses Cafferia, the Portuguese discovery thereof, Table Hill, Lyons Hill (this hill being infested with lions when the Dutch settled there) and the Devils Hill - so named because of the "furious winds which issue from thence, when the top is cover'd with a white cloud". Further down this panel, Boulton tabulates the salaries paid to the qualified and unqualified staff of the Cape of Good Hope government, and extends this information down to a final accounting of the Revenue, Expenses, Balance and Profit for the company.

The map is distinguished by a large title cartouche top right with two reclining Africans.  A child lies nearby holding a parrot, while another African points to the title.  Below the title cartouche on the right wide is the mileage scales.  The last scale records the traveling hours for the Caravan!!  Below the mileage scales is an advertisement:  "The inland parts of Africa being but little known and the Names of the Regions and Countries which fill that vast Tract of Land being for the Greatest part placed by Conjecture It may be judged how absurd are the Divisions Traced in some Maps and why they were not followed in this."

Tooley, Maps of Africa (Map collectors circle no.47), p. 4.   Tooley, Maps of Africa, p 5.   Norwich, Map #105.  Johannesburg Public Library Exhibition, p 84, Map #79.

Very Fine condition.