FRAMED 17thC map. Carpentaria and Papua New Guinea c1683.

by Mallet, Alain Manesson

Nouvelle Guinée et Carpentarie (New Guinea and Carpentaria) in Mer de Sud ou Pacifique(Southern Sea or Pacific) before the charting of Torres Strait.

Small 17th century antique map, beautifully framed in antique-styled gilt-edged, cracked-gesso mount with a beautiful solid poplar frame. With fine later hand-colour highlighting the coastlines, this map is in good condition except for a foxing spot in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This wonderful little map was engraved on a copperplate by Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706), for publication in Paris c1683 “by Royal privilege”, for the first ‘modern’ book of geography, his Description de l’Univers (Description of the Universe).

Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) studied mathematics and geometry at the College of Burgundy, under the military engineer, Philippe Mallet (1606-1679). He then joined the army and rose to the rank of sargento-mor (equivalent to commander) of artillery and inspector of fortifications under Marshal Schomberg. Advising improvement of Portugal's fortifications, he contributed greatly to the Treaty of Independence of Portugal from Spain in 1668. He then returned to France and was appointed mathematics teacher of the pages of the King in Little Stable, Versaille (reserved for the sons of the noble families whose antiquity dated back to 1550 or earlier). As master of mathematics, Mallet had time to write on military science and the art of siege warfare. Mallet's most important publications were Travaux de Mars, ou l'art de War (Work of Mars, or the Art of War) (Mars was the mythical Greek and Roman god of war.), and Description de l'Univers (Description of the Universe).

To intaglio impression measures 150 x 105mm (6.78 x 4.1/8 inches). Page size is 210 x 130mm (8.1/4 x 5.1/8 inches). External size of the frame is aapproximately 34 x 30cm (13.5 x 12 inches). (This is the same map as above.)