The Earliest and Most Decorative Map of the East Coast of Africa

"Delineatio Orarum Maritimarum, Terrae vulgo Indigetatae Terra do Natal, item Sofalae, Mozambicae, & Melindae…", Linschoten/Langren

This magnificent map of the eastern coast of Africa is superbly engraved in the Flemish style by Arnold Florent van Langren. The cartouche contains a description of the region in both Latin and Dutch that credits the source as "the very best Indian maps" - referring to maps that Linschoten had access to when he was Secretary to the Portuguese Archbishop of Goa in India. The map extends from R. do Infante to Doara, and includes Madagascar and the tip of the island of Ceylon. Typical geographical features of the time are shown, such as the Lunae Montes (Mountains of the Moon), and Zaflan Lacus depicted as one of the sources of the Nile River. The extensive coastal details are likely sourced from Portuguese portolan charts, especially those of Bartolomeu Lasso. The map is richly adorned with the Christian emperor Prestor John, elephants, and lions inhabiting Africa, as well as ships, sea monsters and elaborate compass roses filling the Indian Ocean.

References: Norwich #239b; Tooley (MCC-29) #168.

Condition: B

Issued folding, now pressed. There are professional repairs to fold separations with a few small areas of loss at fold intersections with a minor amount of rhumb lines in facsimile. There are several long tears that have also been professionally repaired. A 1/2" by 3.5" chip in bottom right corner has been repaired with border in facsimile.