"Totius Africae Accuratissima Tabula", Wit, Frederick de

A beautiful map of the continent filled with details typical of the late 17th Century. The Nile appears according to the ancient pattern, arising from the two lakes of Zaire and Zafflan. De Wit's depiction of the southeastern coast includes numerous deep inlets and several rivers and lakes at the southern tip not seen on other maps of the period. The kingdom of Monomotapa extends as far south as the Rio de Infante and there are few names in the interior of the Cape. The interior is decorated with elephants, ostriches, monkeys, lions and rhinoceros, and seven small ships sail in the oceans. The magnificent title cartouche features Moors and Negroes with a child seated on an elephant and two lions perched atop the cartouche. This beautiful map was copied by several other cartographers including Danckerts and De Ram.

References: Norwich #48.

Condition: B

Fine old color. Evenly toned with short splits on fold, top one extending 1" into map, closed with archival tape. Small chip in right margin well away from image.