A very early issue from a 1570 edition. Three maps on a single sheet each showing important parts of the classical world--Asia Minor (western Turkey), Egypt, and Carthage (Tunis)--but here depicted with then up-to-date cartography. More
The first issue of this early engraving of five Moroccan port cities, including Tangier, Asilah, the fishing port of Safi, and the ancient city of Sale’. Cueta is an autonomous Spanish city opposite Gibraltar. More
A vigorously decorative map of Africa--the first in English but adopting the rich Dutch cartes a figures style so popular at the time. As is customarily seen on 17th century maps, Africa's interior is filled with fictitious mountains, rivers and lakes as well as notations concerning legends, notably where gold..... More
A stunning, original-colored example of this landmark map of Africa, directly based on Mercator’s 1569 wall map of the world. It is a prime example of Mercator’s craft, engraved with fine calligraphy and a particularly beautiful cartouche surmounted with fauns. While superficially resembling the Ortelius map of Africa, the Mercator..... More
A magnificent strike of this attractive chart of the African coast extending from Angola to the southern border of modern day Namibia. The chart features a beautifully engraved ship and compass rose, and is further embellished by Lucini’s renowned calligraphic engraving. Dudley was one of the most colorful figures among..... More
A beautiful example of this landmark in the mapping of South Africa. It appeared in Dudley’s Arcano de Mare, “the first sea atlas in which every chart was based on Mercator’s projection, the first to show prevailing winds and currents in the main harbours and anchorages, the first to give..... More
An atlas of wall maps in an Italian binding of uncommon elegance created for Prince Giambattista Borghese, whose armorial bookplate is on the inside of the front cover. Giambattista Borghese (1639-1717), of the powerful Sienese/ Roman family, was a notable patron of the arts. He purchased the family home that..... More
Fine, early chart of the Barbary Coast--the pirate haven along the southwestern coast of Morocco. The two primary horizontal charts cover from Safi in the north to Cap Blanc in the south. At the bottom of the chart are three insets: of the Madeira Islands, of Angra, the primary city..... More
One of the earliest charts of the Barbary Coast, Madera and the key Atlantic stepping stones of the Azores to appear in a Dutch nautical atlas. The sheet includes two charts of the coast of Morocco, a harbor chart of Punto del Gada, and a plan and chart of Angra..... More
This beautiful engraving of Angra on Terceira depicts the city and its surrounds under attack by sea. Ships menace the harbor, and fires can be seen springing up in the fields beyond the city walls. The Portuguese stronghold on this key Atlantic port of call..... More
A dramatic, superbly engraved view of Gorea, a small (3000 by 1150 feet) Senegalese island now part of the city of Dakar. Prior to the waves of European colonization, the island was uninhabited, being devoid of fresh water. The Portuguese established a cemetery and chapel on the island in 1444;..... More
A rare, attractive engraving that vividly evokes the mountainous terrain surrounding Oran’s harbor. Three forts are named and shown in some detail, and there is a vignette of the city, all of which serve as landmarks for navigation. More
This large, superbly detailed map of South Africa shows the region just prior to the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The Boer territories - Orange Free State and the South African Republic - are both shown in yellow, as distinct from the surrounding red of British lands. The gold..... More
The most general of the four Ptolemaic maps of Africa from Mercator’s definitive edition of Ptolemy’s geography. It extends far enough south to fully show Ptolemy’s enduring source of the Nile River, the “Mountains of the Moon,” from which streams emanate to feed two lakes that in turn feed the..... More
An attractive, early map of East Africa and the Nile River valley, showing the location of the mythical empire of a Christian king—Prestyr John. European travelers had sought after this legendary monarch, believed to have been descended from King David, since the Middle Ages. His kingdom was initially thought to..... More
One of the most richly engraved maps of early cartography in a richly colored example. Tooley described it as "the earliest and most decorative special map of the east coast of Africa embracing the eastern Cape, Natal, Portuguese East and Kenya." The map’s ornamentation, particularly the large, bold compasses roses..... More
A stunning, original-color example of "one of the most decorative and popular of all the early maps of Africa." -- Norwich. Blaeu’s Ships, monsters and animals abound in this sumptuous engraving. In spite of its rich detail, the design of the map is remarkably clean and sharp, particularly in regard..... More
An attractive example of one of the first, possibly the first overall, general map of Africa engraved and published in England. A very attractive example with a dark impression. The map is after Sanson, whose delineation of the continent was considered to be the most authoritative at the time. This..... More
One of the earliest maps of the Turkish Empire engraved and published in England. Printed from two separate copperplates on one sheet, the map depicts the Ottoman Empire from Hungary to Persia and including the Empire’s frontier with Russia north of the Black Sea. Blome..... More
Rare, attractively engraved chart of the harbor of Tangiers in Morocco, opposite Gibraltar. The old town itself and prominent structures such as the old castle and stadium are illustrated to provide landmarks to aid in navigation. More