Descrizione

Original copperplate engraving. Paper size: 25.5 x 37.5 cm, map size: 21 x 31 cm. The map depicts both Upper and Lower Guinea, extending from the Sierra Leone River to Cape Negro. It features arrows illustrating the oceanic currents in the Gulf of Guinea. The terrain is represented pictorially, and the prime meridians used are Ferro and Paris. "Liv. I, II, XI: No. 10." (on the lower margin) and "10." (to accompany) originate from a highly esteemed and influential 18th-century European work on the East and West Indies, titled Histoire Philosophique et Politique des Établissements et du Commerce des Européens dans les Deux Indes, along with its accompanying atlas, Atlas de Toutes les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre, Dressé pour l'Histoire Philosophique et Politique des Établissements et du Commerce des Européens dans les Deux Indes. "The atlas was first issued in 1780 with maps engraved by Andre, then reissued in 1783-4 (P5995) without Andre or Bonne on the maps, finally reissued in 1820 with the maps reengraved by Dien" (Tooley). Rigobert Bonne was a prominent French cartographer, regarded as one of the most influential cartographers of the late 18th century. In 1773, he succeeded Jacques Nicolas Bellin as Royal Cartographer to France, working in the office of the Hydrographer at the Depôt de la Marine. In this official role, Bonne produced some of the most precise and detailed maps of the era. His work marked a significant shift in cartographic philosophy, moving away from the ornate, decorative style common in 17th and early 18th-century maps towards a more practical and detail-oriented approach. Bonne's maps, while retaining some stylistic elements of Bellin's work, particularly in the depiction of terrain, were less concerned with decoration. Unlike many maps of the period, Bonne's designs generally forgo features like hand coloring, intricate decorative cartouches, and compass roses, emphasizing clarity and practicality instead. Bonne's maps are particularly known for their detailed portrayal of coastal regions, and his work is highly regarded for both its historical significance and aesthetic appeal.