Ancient world - Europe, Asia Minor, Arabia, India, Northern Africa, Asia; Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville / Christoph Weigel - Orbis Veteribus Notus - 1781-1800

”Orbis Veteribus Notus”

Large hand-coloured double-page map of Ancient world and covers all of Europe, Asia Minor, Arabia and India, much of Northern Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. This map was engraved by Johann Gottfried Sturm and originates from ”Atlas Antiquus Danvillianus. Conspectus tabularum geographicarum”. This work was published in Nuremberg by Christoph Weigel, 1784.

D'Anville compiled this map from various sources including Ptolemy, Herodotus, Thucydides, and others. In Africa, the author notes various cities from Ptolemy's Geographica , including Rapta, Axum, Garama, and others. Includes the Mountains of the Moon, Lakes of the Nile, and other conjectural destinations. Far in the south a note reads, Aethiopes Anthropophagi, which essentially translates to African Cannibals. In the Far East a number of classical locals are noted, including the island of Taprobana (Celon) and the empires of Southeast Asia. Details mountains, rivers, cities, roadways, and lakes with political divisions highlighted in outline color. Title cartouche appears in a baroque frame in the upper left quadrant. Cartouche is flanked on either side by malignant appearing figure with a telescope and a studious scholar reading a book. Includes eight distance scales, bottom left, referencing various measurement systems common in antiquity.

Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville (1697–1782) was a renowned French cartographer and geographer, considered one of the most skilled mapmakers of the 18th century. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his contributions to the accuracy of geographical knowledge, particularly in mapping the ancient world. D'Anville's work was highly regarded by scholars and explorers, and his maps were widely used by the French government and military. His innovations in mapmaking included a focus on accurate topography and the use of contemporary sources to improve the precision of maps.

Artist or Maker: 
Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville

Dimensions:
73 cm x 58 cm

Medium: 
Engraving

Date: 
1784

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

This item is professionally protected by handmade packing.
The Certificate of Authenticity is included.