Small, charming map of Africa attributed to Sanson on the cartouche but present in the 1679 German edition of Sanson's atlas issued by Johann Zunner.

Although nominally attributed to Sanson, this peculiar map marks a distinct departure of style from his usual maps, particularly due to the inclusion of decorative ships and sea monsters, a practice which Sanson avoided.

A study of the most authoritative carto-bibliography of maps of Africa found distinct geographical differences between the small Sanson map  and this example, despite the fact that the former was previously believed to be the source for the latter. Instead, this map bears a much closer resemblance to an anonymous map issued c.1650, which has been tentatively attributed to Pierre Mariette, Sanson's publisher and close associate.

Mariette's map does bear the distinct Dutch style decorations in the sea; it was also derived from Jodocus Hondius's map published in 1619.

[AFR6278]