DESCRIPTION: Attractive antique copper-plate engraving of Table Bay and early Cape Town, South Africa, about 40 miles north of the Cape of Good Hope. This very decorative view shows the nascent town of Cape Town with the Dutch Fort in the background and numerous ships at anchor in the foreground. In the far distance are Table Mountain and Devil's Peak. Table Bay was an important stop for resupplying ships making the passage to and from Europe and the East Indies.
With a textual description, in French, of the environs including that of nearby gardens and a small guest house or "Pavillon" of the Dutch East India Company near the garden. It was in that small guest house that a French embassy to Siam including six Jesuit priests set up an observatory during their stay in 1685. At bottom of the text is a engraved depiction of the guest house and gardens at night with a clock and telescope deployed to make astronomical observations; the Dutch fort visible in the background.
By Henri Chatelain, published in his "Atlas Historique" between 1705 and 1720.
Total size of page is 8" x 15"; the upper engraving of Table Bay and Mountain is 8" x 6". Book 6. No 17. Page 74.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1720
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: South Africa
BODY OF WATER: Cape of Good Hope
CONDITION: Good.
A few chips to the edges and one small closed 1/2" tear at the bottom, more than 2 inches from the image.
COLORING: None.
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 8
" x
15 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 6
PRICE: $295
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