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Impero del Gran Mogol
60
x 45 cm copperplate engraving, 66 x 47.5 cm sheet size, modern hand
colour, Venice, 1692
We are pleased to offer this scarce original map of the Mughal
Empire (encompassing what is today northern India, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Burma) at the height of its power
by Vincenzo Coronelli
(1650-1718) of Venice, a Franciscan friar who also
served as Royal Geographer to Louis XIV of France. Perhaps
best
known for his magnificent globes,
Coronelli produced over 400 maps throughout his long career and this
scarce and important map is an example of his meticulous
emphasis on detail and accuracy while still retaining charming baroque
embellishments. In 1684 Coronelli founded the first modern
geographical society - the Accademia
Cosmografica degli Argonauti
which eventually attained a membership of over 200 cartographers and
scholars throughout Europe. The
basic cartography follows the traditional 17th century Dutch "Magni
Mogolis Imperium" format of essentially identical maps issued by
Hondius, Blaeu, Jansson and others which were in turn based on British
East India Company charts including a survey by the British explorer William
Baffin.
However, Coronelli also draws on Venetian sources for
extensive
text entries regarding different cities and peoples of the region that
provides a rich portrait of European understanding of the Mughal Empire
during the long reign of Emperor
Aurangzeb.
Coronelli's bold engraving style, the large format and charming
decorative elements - all accentuated here by hand colour work of the
very highest calibre - have deservedly made this one of the most sought
after antiquarian maps of the region and this example will make an
elegant presentation if matted and framed.
We
begin our survey of the map with the handsome title cartouche featuring
a martial theme - note "Cabul" (Kabul) in what is now Afghanistan:
A
separate dedication cartouche honours Venetian statesman Girolamo
Correr (aka Corraro), a patron of Coronelli's geographic academy:
Moving
to the map itself we find the spurious Lake
Chiang Mai or Lake Chiamay as the
source for rough representations of the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween and
Brahmaputra rivers - a fiction first reported by the Portuguese Antonio
de Faria y Sousa in 1543. Coronelli's notation discusses
seasonal, annual flooding:
Mouths
of the Ganges:
Source
of the Ganges - note variants of spelling for town names, with some
listing as many as four:
Gulf of Khambhat - to get a
sense of map detail consider that the distance from Chittaurgarh (here
shown as "Chitor") to Burhanpur (here shown as "Brampore") at lower
right as seen in the enlarged photo below measures just 8.5 cm actual
size:
People
in the region near Kandahar described as warlike...
Condition
- Please note carefully: Map is in very good condition as can be
ascertained from photos, strong
impression with distinct platemark, good
quality hand made laid paper, superb hand colour work.
However, bidders should note that the map exhibits
an old
repaired separation to the centrefold at top. This
area of
repair can be evaluated in the photo of the region of the source of the
Ganges above, appearing as a minor crease passing through the paragraph
of text. The area of partial separation extends ~ 18 cm from
the top margin but is so skillfully restored that it is difficult to
even detect. A similar, much shorter (~ 6 cm) repaired tear
is present at bottom centrefold, again appearing as a scarcely
noticeable crease. The map exhibits some extremely faint
offset along a narrow band in centrefold area and some "as issued"
excess printers ink here and there. Margins are trimmed
somewhat close top and bottom and all are slightly tapered.
In all, a well preserved example of a fascinating and
beautiful map that will make an elegant presentation if matted and
framed. Inquiries
welcome and we encourage you to visit our other auctions
on eBay.
Note:
Final auction price
includes
insured
shipment within continental
United States. All
other customers to
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insurance. International bidders are wholly responsible for
any
applicable customs, duties or taxes upon receipt.
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"Some
to beautify their halls, parlours and chambers... liketh, loveth,
getteth, and useth maps, charts, and geographical globes" - John Dee
(1527-1608)
"...Maps begin as dreams, pass
through a finite life in the world, and resume as dreams again..," -
Thomas Pynchon
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