Johann Matthias Haas was a professor of mathematics at Wittenberg. For his map of Africa he used J.B. Homann's 1715 map, augmented to include important cartographic developments after Guillaume Delisle and D'Anville. Thus, his map presents a fairly accurate picture without most of the fictitious lakes and rivers of previous cartography. It focuses on the known coastal regions of the continent, leaving the interior blank or marked Terra Incognito. Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia are shown as distinct entities, Lake Nyasa is shown as Lac Marawi, and the Congo is located. The Dutch settlements of Castell Batov and Stellenbosch are shown at the Cape. The most striking feature of the map is the large title cartouche that is framed by elephant tusks and a horned serpent. In the foreground is a scene of natives negotiating with European traders, surrounded by indigenous animals. In the background is a view of Table Bay and Table Mountain.

References: Norwich #83.

Condition: B+

Contemporary color in the map with later color in the cartouche, with light soiling in the image and a small abrasion in the border at bottom right. Pasted onto a second sheet of old paper to repair chips and a few tears along the edges of the sheet. Old manuscript ink notations in the blank margin at top right.