Plan de Porto Longon
Paris: Jacques Nicolas Bellin, 1764.
Map. Engraving with hand coloring. Image measures 8 1/2 x 6 3/4".
This lovely 1764 map or sea-chart of Porto Longone, now known as Porto Azzurro, on the Island of Elba, was created by Jacques Nicolas Bellin. It is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Seas Tuscan Archipelago National Park. It depicts the region in exquisite detail, highlighting villages, fortifications, and coastal features. The map includes depth soundings in the surrounding waters, with forests and mountains illustrated in profile. The fort detailed here, dating back to the 17th century under Spanish dominion, faced numerous attacks throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly by the French during the Spanish War of Succession. It%u2019s known for its beaches, and as Napoleon%u2019s place of exile in 1814%u201315. The map was published in Bellin's 1764 edition of "Le petit atlas maritime". In good condition with some toning.
Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was the official hydrographer to the French king and the first person to hold the title of "Ingenieur de la Marine of the Depot des cartes et plans de la Marine" (chief engineer of the French Hydrographical Office). Bellin oversaw the systematic mapping of coastlines with unparalleled precision, surpassing his English and Dutch contemporaries. Known to be one of the most important cartographers of the 18th century, he was particularly well-known for his maps of the French Empire, especially the territories in North America. Bellin's maps, celebrated for their accuracy and craftsmanship, set the standard for navigation and geographical study across Europe during the eighteenth century. This map is a beautiful example of his work. Binding: Unbound
Language: French
Price: $185.00
Item #322754