Map of Southern Africa by Nicolas Sanson c.1655

Hand-coloured copperplate engraving by Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667), a French cartographer who served under two kings in matters of geography. He has been called the "father of French cartography".

In the cartouche, Sanson credits details of this map to Samuel Blommaert and Livio Sanuto. Blomaert was a Flemish / Dutch merchant and director of the V.O.C. (The Dutch East India Company). Sanuto was a Venetian cosmographer.

Depicted in this map are the borders of non-existent countries, fictitious rivers and exaggerated mountain ranges. Even though three years prior to this map being produced, Jan van Riebeeck had settled at the Cape, no mention is made of this.
Reference: Norwich Map 158

615mm x 746mm (framed)

R22,500