Catalog Archive
Auction 148, Lot 719

De Wit's Uncommon Carte-a-Figures Map of Africa

"Nova Africa Descriptio", Wit, Frederick de

Subject: Africa

Period: 1665 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
21.9 x 17.3 inches
55.6 x 43.9 cm
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This is De Wit's uncommon map of Africa, first published in 1660 in a set of maps of the four continents, each with decorative native figures at the sides and town views above. These were some of the earliest maps by De Wit, and also the last folio-sized maps with decorative borders to be issued in Amsterdam. This map shows views of Cairo (Alcair), Alexandria, Algiers (Alger), Tunis, Tangiers (Tanger), and Ceuta across the top, which are close copies from Jodocus Hondius' map of Africa from 1623. The figures at both sides of the map are nearly identical to those from Van den Keere's Africa map of 1614, with the exception of the top two (Congensis and Mulier Abissinea). The geography on the map is based on Jodocus Hondius' Africae nova Tabula from 1623, which was copied from Willem Blaeu's Africae nova Descriptio from 1617, although De Wit omits the engravings of animals in the interior. The Nile is shown according to Ptolemy with its sources arising in the lakes Zaire and Zaflan, the fictitious Lake Sachaf of Laurent Fries appears, as well as the R. de Spirito Santo. De Wit's map of Africa was issued separately, as well as in composite Dutch atlases. This is the third state, with the addition of a woman and infant in the right-hand shield of the publisher cartouche at bottom.

References: Betz #96.3.

Condition: A

A fine impression on watermarked paper with a few tiny spots in the Atlantic and a professionally repaired centerfold separation that enters 2" into map at bottom.

Estimate: $3,000 - $3,750

Sold for: $2,200

Closed on 2/19/2014

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