Map of Africa Value Guide

This exquisite 18th-century French map, titled 'De L'Afrique. Figure LXVIII.', represents the golden age of cartography where geographic data met fine artistry. It is highly collectible for its hand-colored watercolor accents and rare lower border illustrations depicting figures riding elephants, a style popularized by master cartographers like Willem Janszoon Blaeu.

What affects the value of Map of Africa?

• The preservation of the hand-colored details and the vibrancy of the watercolor pigments.
• The physical condition of the paper, specifically the absence of foxing, tears, or significant acid burn from the wood frame.
• The rarity of the 'Figure LXVIII' plate designation and its decorative elephant motifs compared to standard topographical maps.
• Provenance and the quality of the period-style wood and glass framing.

How to Identify Map of Africa?

• Verify the specific title 'De L'Afrique. Figure LXVIII.' printed in period-appropriate French typography.
• Examine the lower border for the distinct hand-colored illustrations of figures mounted on elephants.
• Check for authentic 1700-1750 era paper characteristics, such as chain lines or watermarks visible when held to light.
• Look for the presence of original hand-applied watercolor washes rather than modern mechanical printing.

History of Map of Africa

This map is likely a decorative print from an atlas or a standalone map, possibly inspired by or a reproduction of earlier cartographic works like those by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, whose 1635 map "Africae Nova Descriptio" is renowned for its decorative elements including figures and animals. Such maps were not only navigational tools but also works of art, reflecting the contemporary understanding and exotic perception of distant lands during the golden age of cartography.