A highly decorative sea chart of the southern and southwest coast of Africa
including the Cape of Good Hope. A large title cartouche
dominates the top of the chart. This cartouche shows
lions, leopards, and other African animals. The left of
the cartouche shows a group of Europeans negotiating with
Africans; figures of Africans are also shown. The bottom
right vignette has Neptune and a female figure surrounded by
cherubs and drawn by three horses. Several sea battles
are also depicted.
The copperplate that produced this seachart was originally
prepared by Frederick de Wit (1629-1706). Upon the death
of De Wit and the dispersal of his copperplates in 1710, Renard
used the copperplate to produce this map. The only change
to the map is the erasure of the De Wit imprint and its
replacement with the Renard imprint (evidence of this erasure is
still noticeable on the map). Reiner and Josua Ottens revised this sea chart in 1745 by removing the Neptune
vignette and inserting a detailed map of the area around the
Cape of Good Hope.
References:
Norwich Map #254. Tooley [under
De Witt], p. 124.
Two examples:
Map #AF-534: In original color with later embellishments to
the cartouches. Very Fine Condition. A visually pleasing map
with numerous rhumb lines and compass roses that highlight the
decorative cartouche and vignette. Some gilt to gridline,
compass roses, etc.
Map #AFS-132. Fine condition.
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