BAHAMAS ISLES LUCAYES
£150
Interesting map of the Bahamas from Mallet's famous Description d'Univers published in 1683. Shows parts of Cuba and Florida, and the islands of the Bahamas with their names. Decorated with numerous sailing ships engaged in battle, and a banner title on top. Descriptive French text of the island of San Salvador on verso!
Beautiful hand colour.
Mint condition.
code : M4985
Cartographer : Mallet Alain
Date : 1685 Frankfurt
Size : 15*11cms
availability : Available
Price : £150
Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer.
He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV, became a Sergeant-Major in the artillery and an Inspector of Fortifications. He also served under the King of Portungal, before returning to France, and his appointment to the court of Louis XIV. His military engineering and mathematical background led to his position teaching mathematics at court.
His major publications were Description de L'Univers (1683) in 5 volumes, and Les Travaux de Mars ou l'Art de la Guerre (1684) in 3 volumes.
His Description de L'Universe contains a wide variety of information, including star maps, maps of the ancient and modern world, and a synopsis of the customs, religion and government of the many nations included in his text. It has been suggested that his background as a teacher led to his being concerned with entertaining his readers. This concern manifested itself in the charming harbor scenes and rural landscapes that he included beneath his description of astronomical concepts and diagrams. Mallet himself drew most of the figures that were engraved for this book.
