Nova Africa Tabula

This glorious map of the African continent bridges the divide between the earlier maps of Mercator (1595) and Ortelius (1570), and the more modern maps of Blaeu and Claesz. The addition of the latest cartographic information by Pigafetta, Africanus and others allowed for a number of significant geographical revisions, particularly in the region of the Congo which draws on Pigafetta's work, but also in Southern and Eastern Africa.



Decorative elements include an elegant strapwork cartouche, sea monsters, ships, and crude depictions of a camel, a monkey, and an elephant. Stunning original hand-colour.

[Betz (R.L.): The Mapping of Africa 52] [AFR5690]