Nouvelle Carte De L'ile De Ceylon - French Map Of Dutch Ceylon (Sri Lanka) From The Early 18Th Century. Henri Abraham Chatelain

"This fine copperplate engraved map offers a detailed overview of the island of Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) in the first two decades of the 18th century. Pictorial topography and dense forests give an impression of untamed wilderness, with a handful of European outposts distinctly labeled amid the native villages and plantations. At the time of printing, the Dutch were fighting to obtain control of the spice-rich island from the Kingdom of Kandy. The fortified capital can be seen in the center of the image, which is oriented with north to the right. Blocks of descriptive French text at the top and bottom provide additional historical, economic, and geopolitical information about Ceylon. The map was published in Paris in 1719 as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain's important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720 but was re-printed in numerous subsequent editions. The scholarly work offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science that provides fascinating contemporary details through the inclusion of descriptive text, maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations. Source." Sheet Width (in) 20 Sheet Height (in) 17.25 Condition Description A strong impression issued on nice watermarked paper. Some very faint damp stains can be seen in the lower right and there is a modest among of wrinkling adjacent to the vertical centerfold. A few tiny wormholes in the lower right (largest below Mer des Indes) and some ink smudging in the lower left, probably from the original printing. Good to very good condition overall.