Subject: Lesser Antilles
Period: 1680 (circa)
Publication:
Color: Hand Color
Size:
10.2 x 13.2 inches
25.9 x 33.5 cm
Rare first state of this fine French chart covering the Antilles from the Virgin Islands to Tobago. A key and the coloring show the islands as the European possessions of England, France, Spain and Holland. This first state bears the imprint of the engraver, Jean Somer. Pierre Duval was Nicolas Sanson's son-in-law, and Sanson's influence is evident in this map's sparse, scientific style.
References:
Condition: B+
A dark impression on paper with very wide margins and the watermark of a bunch of grapes in a medallion. There is light printer's ink residue, minor toning along the centerfold, and some errant color in the title cartouche. There is also light toning along the edges of the sheet and extraneous creasing along the top edge of the sheet, well away from the image.