Jan Barend Elwe L' Afrique Divisee en ses Empires, Royaumes et Etats Dressees Sur Les Dernieres

Stunningly beautiful map of Africa printed from a copperplate first used almost a century earlier!  

  This map was published in 1792 by Jan-Barend Elwe in his Atlas Geographique et Universel and is based on a similarly titled map by Jean Janvier (published in 1674).  Jaillot's original map was published in France, very popular and copied for a century by notable Dutch cartographer, publishers and colourists such as Covens and Mortiers, R. and J. Ottens, and here by Elwe; it was also used as the basis for the scarce map by William Berry.  

  The cartography is typical for the seventeenth century: the Nile River originates from the two large, sub-equatorial lakes described by Ptolemy. The River Zaire (Congo) arises from Lake Zaire. The Kingdom of Monomotapa is shown with its capital on the Rio de Spirito Santa as is the legendary Vigiti Magna.  The map is embellished with two elaborate cartouches which have been tastefully coloured. 

  A beautiful, coloured and historic map in fine condition.

References:

Richard Betz Mapping of Africa, 2007, #158.4