1749 Bellin Map of Sumatra, Malay, and Singapore
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Description: This is J. N. Bellin’s 1749 map of Sumatra and the southern portion of the Malay Peninsula. This is an unusually detailed map of the area, showing many coastal features, shoals, banks and small islands. The Straits of Malacca and the Detroit de Sincapour and finely detailed. Singapore Island is not specifically named, but it is shown, and several other lesser islands are named including Tioman Island, Banca, and Penang, plus many off the west coast of Sumatra. The cities of Palembang, Jambi, Manimcabo, Aceh and Batang are located, but not Medan is curiously not identified. A legend lower right gives the local terms for rivers, capes and islands as well as advises that the interior of this region is largely unknown. At lower right below neatline is "Tome IX. No. 6,” identifying this map as coming from the ninth volume of Abbe Provosts, Histoire Generale Des Voyages.
Date: 1749 (undated)
Source: Provost, A., L`Histoire Generale des Voyages, vol 9 (Paris) 1749.
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 12 x 10 inches (30.48 x 25.4 centimeters)
Condition: Very good condition. On thin paper. Original fold lines.
Code: SumatraSingapore-provost-1749 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)
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