"Isle d'Auphine, Communement Nommee par les Europeens Madagascar, et St. Laurens, et par les Habitans du Pays Madecase...", Sanson, Nicolas

This is a splendid, large-scale map of Madagascar and the surrounding islands in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa. The map is filled with detail along the coasts and is decorated with an unusual compass rose, sailing ship, and a figurative cartouche with native inhabitants. The map is based on the report from two early French accounts of the islands: Etienne de Flacourt, a French governor of Madagascar in 1648 and Francois Cauche, who voyaged to Madagascar in 1638.

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Condition: B+

On watermarked paper with faint toning along the centerfold, several extraneous creases, and a short edge tear that just enters the neatline at bottom. There is a small amount of manuscript ink in bottom left border.