L'AFRIQUE DIVISEE EN SES PRINCIPAUX ETATS ASSUJETTIE AUX OBSERVATIONS ASTRONOMIQUE
£350
Superb large-format map of Africa. By the French geographer Jean Janvier and published in Venice by Francesco Santini. Bearing the added imprint of the prominent Bassano printer Giuseppe Remondini, the map embraces not only the entire African continent but also significant portions of Southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and the western coast of the Indian subcontinent.
The main map captures the geographic understanding of Africa prior to the great wave of nineteenth-century inland exploration. The interior is dominated by extensive conjectural details, including the Royaume de Tombut (Timbuktu) and Monomotapa, alongside sweeping tracts labeled Sahra ou Desert and HOTENTOTS DE NATAL. The eastern portion of the sheet extends well beyond Africa to feature the coastlines of Persia and India, detailing Isfahan, the Gulf of Cambay, and the Laccadive Islands.
With two inset maps:
- Carte Particulière du Cap de Bon(n)e Espérance et de ses environs. Dressée par M. l'Abbé de la Caille.
- Carte Particulière de l'Isle de France. Dressée par Mr. l'Abbé de la Caille en 1753.
Excellent hand colour
Near mint condition
Par le Sr. Janvier Géographe.
A Venise | Par François Santini, rue Ste Justine près la dite Eglise.
Chez Mr. Remondini.
code : M5680
Cartographer : JANVIER Jean
Date : 1776 Venice
Size : 47.5*65 cms sheet size 53*75 cms
availability : Available
Price : £350
Jean or Robert Janvier (fl. 1746 - 1776) was a Paris based cartographer active in the mid to late 18th century. Janvier true first name is a matter of debate, as it appears as it often appears as either Jean or Robert. More commonly, Janvier simply signed his maps Signor Janvier. By the late 18th century Janvier seems to have been awarded the title of "Geographe Avec Privilege du Roi" and this designations appears on many of his latter maps. Janvier worked with many of the most prominent French, English and Italian map publishers of his day, including Faden, Lattre, Bonne, Santini, Zannoni, Delamarche, and Desnos.
