Catalog Archive
Auction 123, Lot 741

"To His Majesty George the Third, King of Great Britain &c, This Chart of Felicia, and Plan of the Island Balambangan…", Dalrymple, Alexander

Subject: East Indies - Indonesia

Period: 1770 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
24.5 x 19 inches
62.2 x 48.3 cm
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This is an unusual chart of Borneo's north coast along with the nearby islands, and inset with a map of Balambangan Island. The map notes soundings and coastal features, with minimal interior detail. Alexander Dalrymple explored the East Indies in the employ of the East India Company. This map shows the track of his ship during the 1762 journey.

The depiction of the land surface features have been a challenge for map makers ever since the earliest maps. The restriction imposed by copper engraving limited the drawings essentially to line work in one color. Areas of slope were generally depicted with hachures with the level areas left blank. Hachures were drawn with the rule that the greater the slope and ruggedness, the denser and darker were the hachures. This map is a fine example of one of the methods employed during the late 18th century to more clearly depict topographical features; these features are etched, rather than engraved. The imprint at bottom credits D. Lerpeniere with the etching and B. Henry with the engraved portions of the chart.

References:

Condition: B

A sound sheet with some staining on the centerfold and upper margin.

Estimate: $250 - $300

Sold for: $325

Closed on 2/20/2008

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