Guillaume Sanson

Paris 1668

The First State : 
AFRIQUE , | Par N. SANSON Geographe Ordinaire du-Roy | corrigée et changée en plusieurs endroits | suivant les Relations les plus recentes; | Par le Sr SANSON le Fils. | A PARIS ; | Chez PIERRE MARIETTE rue S. Iacques à l'Esperance | Avec privilege de S. Mai.té po.r [pour] 20 ans. | 1668.

Original copperplate printed map: 
40 x 55 cm.
Map #AF-536   
$1,200

 

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The map was produced in partnership with Pierre Mariette the younger (1634-1716). Their partnership lasted until about 1673, when Sanson began to work instead with Alexis-Hubert Jaillot.

This 1668 Africa map was possibly engraved by Mariette, although there is no indication of this on the map itself.

Guillaume's map has additional placenames in those areas of Africa that were coming under increasing French influence, particularly in West Africa and on Madagascar. Madagascar has the additional title of Isle Dauphine, replacing his father's title of S. Laurens. Fort Dauphin, which was not on his father's 1650 map, is shown at the southern end of Madagascar.

The map shows St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean and to the east N. I. de S.ta Helena (New St. Helena Island), a fictitious island which did not appear on his father's map. However, on this 1668 map Sanson does not appear to utilize new Dutch information on the coast of Southern Africa. He incorrectly places the Cape of Good Hope at generally the same latitude to the south as Cape Agulhas, the true southern-most extent of the continent.  The map has a traditional view of the Niger River flowing westward into the Atlantic. The R. de Spiritu Santo and Zambere (replacing the Cuama) Rivers originate from one river that emerges from an unnamed lake (Sachaf Lacus) below the two Ptolemaic Lakes of Central Africa.

Betz, Map #107.  Not in Norwich.

Fine Condition.