1750 Bellin Map of Ceylan or Sri Lanka

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Price: $300.00

Title:    Carte de l'Isle de Ceylan Pour Servir a l'Histoire Generale des Voyages.

Description:    This is a fine example of Bellin's 1750 map of Ceylon or Sri Lanka to illustrate Provost's Histoire Generale des Voyages. Covers the entire island of Ceylon from north to south, inclusive of the Isle de Calpetin, Isle Manar, and a group of small islands on the northwest shore. The well-defined coastlines detail capes, bays, and points as well as noting harbors including Colombo, Trinquemale, Chilaw, Negambo, Pamene. Also shows many small towns and villages throughout the inland. During this period, control of Ceylon and the rich spice and tea trade that the island represented was hotly contested between the Dutch East Company and the British India. In 1782, the British would capture the port and Fort Trincomalee, establishing a firm foothold on the island that would eventually lead to British sovereignty from 1796 to 1948. This map was drawn by Jacques Nicolas Bellin in 1750.

Date:    1750 (dated)

Source:    Provost, A., L`Histoire Generale des Voyages, vol 9 (Paris) 1750.

Cartographer:    Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703 - 1772) is one of the most important cartographers of the 18th century. With a career spanning some 50 years, Bellin is an important transitional cartographer. His long career as "hydrographer" and "Ingénieur Hydrographe" to the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine resulted in the completion of hundreds of high quality nautical charts of practically everywhere in the world. Bellin's work focuses on accuracy and tends to be less decorative than the earlier 17th and 18th century work of predecessors such as Homann. In addition to numerous works published during his lifetime, many of his maps were published posthumously. He was succeeded in his position by student Rigobert Bonne. Click here for a list of rare maps from Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.

Size:   Printed area measures 11.5 x 11.5 inches (29.21 x 29.21 centimeters)

Condition:    Very good. Blank on verso. Original platemark visible. Even overall toning. Some transference.

Code:   SriLanka-bellin-1750 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)