"Africae Accurata", a Hand-Colored 17th Century Map of Africa by Visscher

Details

Description

This is an 18th century hand-colored map of Africa entitled "Africae Accurata Tabula ex officina" by Nicolaes Visscher, published in … Read more This is an 18th century hand-colored map of Africa entitled "Africae Accurata Tabula ex officina" by Nicolaes Visscher, published in Amsterdam in 1680. This beautiful, colorful and detailed map is embellished by eleven sailing ships, a whale, flying fish and multiple land animals. It includes the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent portions of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Asia Minor. The map perpetuates several long-standing errors, including the origin of the Nile River from two imaginary lakes in southern Africa, which are shown adjacent to the imaginary Lunae Montes (Mountains of the Moon.

A colorful cartouche in the upper right contains the title and name of the cartographer. Two African men flank the cartouche. The man on the left holds a scorpion and the other holds a cornucopia. Two angels lie under the cartouche. n elaborate cartouche in the lower left is dedicated to Dr. Gerardo Schaep who was a longstanding mayor of Amsterdam, a diplomat and an important patron of Visscher's. Neptune sits to the left of the cartouche and is gazing at a bare breasted woman to the right who is holding a fish. Two figures in the water to the left of Neptune are blowing water from cornucopias, possible symbolizing the continents two great rivers, the Nile and the Niger.

It is presented in a cream-colored mat measuring 23.75" x 28.13". There is a central fold, as issued. There is mild toning and some small spots. It is otherwise in very good condition.

The Visscher family were one of the great cartographic families of the 17th century. Begun by Claes Jansz Visscher (1587-1652) and continued by his son Nicolaes (1618-1679), grandson Nicolaes II (1649-1702) and then by his grandson’s widow, Elizabeth until her death in 1726. The Visschers were prolific publishers, producing individual maps and also atlases made up to their customers’ specifications. They are commonly regarded as second only to the Blaeu family, among Dutch mapmakers, for the high quality of engraving and decoration, and the geographical accuracy of their many maps. See less