Aethiopia Inferior Vel Exterior

Original copper engraving. Date: 1670. Early edition after Jan Jansson’s map of 1636. Sheet size: 51.1cm x 40.4cm. Map size: 36.2cm x 28.2cm. Later but not modern hand-colouring. An interesting map of southern Africa, covering from Congo in the west, down to the Cape of Good Hope and up the eastern coast as far as Mozambique and including Madagascar. Lion, Ostrich, Rhinoceros, Antelope and Buffalo are depicted in the central area as a means of adding interest to the wide expanses of which little was known by the 17th century Europeans. Decorative cartouche to the bottom right shows trade between the Europeans and Africans. Age toning to the wide margins which are a little chipped and evidence of an old mount to the inner margins. Old tab mark to the upper margin verso. Map surface very good and clean. Original central fold line, as issued. Overall a very good copy indeed. Scarce.