Le Cap de Bonne Esperance

This is one of the most attractive early maps focusing on the Cape of Good Hope. It shows the coast from the Bay of Saldahna in the north to the lower part of False Bay in the south.

Van der Aa’s map of the Cape has long been acknowledged as being one of the most attractive maps available to the collector. As with many of his maps, it has been beautifully engraved and bears a large, pictorial cartouche on the lower left; of particular note is the extraordinary view of an enormous, palatial mansion, presumably the governor’s quarters with a grand approach path and surrounded by plantations.

Geographically, the map is extraordinarily detailed, particularly when compared to Nieuhof’s map of 1682 which is based on first hand information; however, later research has shown that many of these details are speculative at best. Overall, van der Aa is very well known as a superb artist, engraver and a very canny business man who was able to make a fortune in map and book publishing. He is not so well known for his geographical accuracy.

Despite its geographical faults, this map is one of the most famous of all early maps of the region and a worthy addition to any collection of the Cape.

[AFR6128]