Original first edition, 1683 hand-colored copperplate engraved map "Afrique Moderne" (De L'Afrique) by Allain Manesson Mallet, from "Description de l'Univers", contenant les differents systemes du Monde, les Cartes generales & particulieres de la Geographie Ancienne & Moderne: Les Plans & les Profils des principales Villes & des autres lieux considerables de la Terre; avec les portraits de Souverains qui y commandent, leurs Blasons, Titres & Livrees: Et les Moeurs, Religions, Gouvernements & divers habillemens de chaque Nation, dedieé au Roy, par Allain Manesson Mallet. Paris, Chez Denys Thierry, Rue S. Jacques, MDCLXXXIII. First edition, 1683, printed in Paris. Visible watermark, upper left corner. Consistent with period, printed on laid paper. Narrow left margin, as issued. Sheet size: 8 x 5 inches; map size: 6 x 4 inches. This beautiful little map is in excellent condition, with no color fading and a pleasing antique tone.
Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV, became a Sergeant-Major in the artillery and an Inspector of Fortifications. He also served under the King of Portugal before returning to France and his appointment to the court of Louis XIV. His military engineering and mathematical background led to his position teaching mathematics at court.
His major publications were "Description de L'Univers" (1683) in 5 volumes, and "Les Travaux de Mars ou l'Art de la Guerre" (1684) in 3 volumes.
His Description de L'Universe contains a wide variety of information, including star maps, maps of the ancient and modern world, and a synopsis of the customs, religion, and government of the many nations included in his text. It has been suggested that his background as a teacher led to his being concerned with entertaining his readers. This concern manifested itself in the charming harbor scenes and rural landscapes that he included beneath his description of astronomical concepts and diagrams. Mallet himself drew most of the figures that were engraved for this book
1683 Mallet Map "Afrique Moderne" (Modern Africa)
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