Novisima et Perfectissma Africae

By 1699 it was just the coast of Africa that had been explored by Europeans as slave trafficking and merchant companies required only coastal bases to trade. The geographical information that had been brought back from these traders and sailors makes much of the mapping of ports and shorelines accurate. It is impossible though for European cartographers and engravers to have had much idea of Africa’s interior. For this reason detail within the continent must be mainly regarded as fictional. In the decorative cartouche figures and animals can be seen flanking the title. Two lions, allegories of Africa, sit upon a pediment. The lion to the right lounges calmly upon paws, head turned from the African natives and their elephant. Its partner lays crouched, face fierce, and ready to pounce upon the Europeans that are talking amongst themselves to the left of the cartouche. Betz describes this as the First State, Variant A, before the later re-working of the plate. [Betz: The Mapping of Africa: 168.1.A]. [AFR5321]