French Map of Africa by Joseph De Laporte (c.1779)

Hand coloured copperplate engraving by Joseph De Laporte.

The port of Ophir is mentioned in the Bible as the region where King Solomon's gold came from. The identification of Ophir with Sofala in Mozambique was mentioned by Milton in Paradise Lost. 'De Sabia' is a reference to the legend of The Queen of Sheba. The Empire of Monomatapa had its capital where the Great Zimbabwe ruins are today. Many Portuguese named coastal points are depicted. Many of these would change to Dutch; German and then English names, as the sea faring powers exerted their territorial influence.

230mm x 185mm excluding mountboard

R3,000