Afrique Ancienne (1812)

Description

Detailed single page copper engraved map of Northern Africa in Ancient times. Depicts the various ancient kingdoms as well as offering good detail of the deserts - some of which is entirely mythological. The map covers also the Southern European Continent from Iberian Peninsula to Greece, Middle East and Arabian Peninsula. The map is adorned with a decorative title cartouche embellished with an Egyptian obelisk.

Sites appearing on the map include: Tamusiga, Mysocora, Sala (Chellah-destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th Century), Banasa (Iulia Valentia Banasa-destroyed in 285 AD), Volubilis (Destroyed in the 11th Century), Tingis (Tangiers), and Parietina, Morocco, Olisipo (Lisbon), Portugal, Carthago Nova (Cartagena), Dianium, and Tarraco (Tarragona), Spain, Massilia (Marseille), France, Caratis, Genua (Genoa), Roma (Rome), and Syracusae (Syracuse), Italy, Athenae (Athens), Greece, Siga, Mina, Medianum, Cartenna (Mostaganem), Caesarea, Vescotbra, Saldae (Destroyed 429 AD), Tabudis, Cirta (Constantine), and Hippo Reglus (Annaba), Algeria, Cathago (Carthage), and Tacape (Gabes), Tunisia, Sabrata (Sabratha), Cydamus (Ghadames), Matalgae, Aea, Leptis Magna, Gerisa, Cyllaba, Garama (Germa), Muchtasii, Cyrene, Darais, Mazala, Augila (Awjila), and Philenor Arae, Libya, Tucabath (Timbuktu), Mali, Byzantium (Istanbul), Sinope (Sinop), Antiocha (Antioch), and Tarsus, Turkey, Babylon, Iraq, Salamis, Cyprus, Palmyra and Damascus, Syria, Persepolis, Iran, Omanum, Oman, Iabris, Alata, Asca, Casandi, Nagrana, Aeli, Chaalla, Sacacia, Macoraba (Mecca), Chariatha, Maaddeni, Iambe, Iatrippa, Leuce Come, Thema, Raunati, Phaenicium Oppidum, Madian (Midian), Thumata, and Gerra (Gerrha), Saudi Arabia, Macala, Mariaba, Sabat, and Muza, Yemen, Aetana, and Petra, Jordan, Aerosolyma (Jerusalem), Israel, Alexandria, Petusium, Ammon, Maraotis, Memphis, Oasis Magna (Kharga), Antinoa, Ptolomais, Coptos (Qift), Theba (Thebes), Berenice, Premis Parva, Cambysis Aeraruim, and Arbos, Egypt, Satachtha, Napata, Candace, Ptolomais, Meroe (Merowe), Tolen, and Auxuma, Sudan, Adulis, Eritrea, Tyrus (Tyre), Lebanon, and the unsure sites of Talubath, Saluce, Nigira Metrop., Ta Gana, Taermunda, Boin, Neglagemela, Thapsagus, Disecra, Tabidium, Thube, Berenice, Saba, Niloptolemaeum, Zingis Extrema, Rapta, and Aesar.

Source publication: Atlas Complet Du Precis De la Geographie Universelle De M. Malte Brun dressee par M. Lapie Capitaine Ingenieur Geographie

Pierre M. Lapie (1779-1850) and his son Alexandre Emile Lapie (1809-1850) were French cartographers and engravers active in the early part of the 19th Century. The Lapies were commissioned officers in the French army holding the ranks of Colonel and Caipitan, respectively. Alexander enjoyed the title of "First Geographer to the King", and this title appears on several of his atlases. Both father and son were exceptional engraversand fastidious cartographers. Working separately and jointly they published four important atlases, an 1811 Atlas of the French Empire (Alexander), the 1812 Atlas Classique et Universel (Pierre), the Atlas Universel de Geographie Ancienne et Modern (joint issue), and the 1848 Atlas Militaire (Alexander). They also issued many smaller maps and independent issues. All of these are products of exceptional beauty and detail.

Conrad Malte-Brun (1755-1826) was an important late 18th and early 19th Century Danish/French cartographer and revolutionary. Conrad was born in Thisted, Denmark. His parents encouraged him to a career in the Church, but he instead enrolled in the University of Copenhagen. In the liberal hall of academia Conrad became an ardent supporter of the French Revolution and the ideals of a free press. Despite the harsh censorship laws of crown prince Frederick VI, Malte-Brun published numerous pamphlets criticizing the Danish government. He was finally charged with defying censorship laws in 1799 and forced to flee to Sweden and ultimately France. Along with colleague Edme Mentelle, Malte-Brun published his first cartographic work, the Geographie mathematique, physique et politique de toutes les parties du monde (6 volumes published between 1803 and 1807). Conrad went on to found Les Annales des Voyages (in 1807) and Les Annales des Voyages, de la Geographie et de l'Histoire (in 1819). He also founded the Paris Societe de Geographie. In time, Conrad became known as one of the finest French cartographers of his time.