Fezzae et Marocchi Regna Africae Celeberrima

Blaeu's beautiful Golden Age map of northwest Africa is orientated east to west and shows modern Morocco. Blaeu credits the geography of the map to Abraham Ortelius on the cartouche. Ortelius first issued his map of the country in 1595. This map's source geography is credited to Ortelius's own compilation of Gastaldi's 1564 wall map of Africa and Sanudo's Atlas of Africa.


The map is divided into the countries of Marrakesh and Fez with both cities also prominently marked. Furthermore, in keeping with the Blaeu style, the map has been extensively decorated with ships, swash lettering, and a large, elaborate cartouche flanked by two satyrs bearing standards representing the two kingdoms. Mountains, forests, and rivers are also handsomely drawn on the map.



Original hand-colour. French text on verso (image available on request). [AFR5922]