NICOLAS DE FER (PARIS 1647-1720)
L’Asie divisée selon letendu de ses principales parties, et dont les points principaux sont placez sur les observations des Messieurs de l’Academie Royale des Sciences. Dressée par N, de Fer, Geographe de monsieur de Dauphin. A Paris chez l’auteur dans l’Isle du Palais, fur le Quay de l’Horloge, à la Sphere Royal. Avec le Privilege du Roy, 1696
Description de l’Asie par N. de Fer (in relief printing)
Engraved by Hendrik van Loon after design by Nicolas de Fer and published by Guillaume Danet, Paris 1724
Printed on four copperplates and surrounded by texts in relief printing, later hand colouring, 109.5 x 163 cm
Note:
The map is surrounded by richly decorated borders, depicting the peoples of Asia, the Chinese, Japanese, Turks, Indians, Tartars (Russians), Philippinos, inhabitants of the Molucca and Sunda islands, Ceylonese, Arabs, peoples from Goa and Mongolia, Armenians, Georgians, people from Golconda, Malaysia, Siam, Cochin and Tonkin. Some detail maps show Arctic areas, with Spitsbergen, Nova Zembla and the North East of China based on the writings of the Jesuits Martino Martini and Ferdinand Verbiest. In the surrounding texts, information is given on the geography of Asia, its rivers, towns, capes, lakes, straits and of the main countries such as Turkey, Arabia, China, Persia, India, Rusland and Arabic islands in the Indian Ocean.
Nicolas de Fer started his apprenticeship at the age of twelve with his father, Antoine de Fer (active from 1644 till 1672). After his father’s death, his mother continued the business and after her retirement, Nicolas took over in 1687. Nicolas turned it into a flourishing business and thanks to his contacts with the Académie Royale des Sciences in Paris he was able to use the latest discoveries in geography and subscribe his maps with “dressée sur les nouvelles observations de Messieurs de l’Académie Royale des Sciences”. In 1690 he became the official cartographer of the Dauphin and later of the Kings of France and Spain. He published more than six hundred maps and many atlases, documenting fortified towns, strongholds and also the explorations and discoveries of new territories. In the decorative style of the French cartography and under the patronage of the Dauphin de Fer made a total of 26 large wall-maps for the French aristocracy.
NICOLAS DE FER (PARIS 1647-1720)
L’Afrique divisée selon letendu de ses principales parties, et dont les points principaux sont placez sur les observations des Messieurs de l’Academie Royale des Sciences. Dressée par N. De Fer, Geographe de monsieur de Dauphin. A Paris chez l’auteur dans l’Isle du Palais, fur le Quay de l’Horloge, à la Sphere Royal. Avec le Privilege du Roy, 1698
Description de l’Afrique par N. de Fer (in relief printing). Engraved by Hendrik van Loon after design by Nicolaas de Fer
Printed on four copperplates and surrounded by texts in relief printing, later hand colouring, 109.5 x 163 cm
Note:
The map is surrounded by richly decorated borders, depicting the peoples of Africa, the Moroccans, inhabitants of Fez, Algerians and inhabitants of Tripoli, Egyptians, Abyssinians, Bildulguriens(?), Nubians, inhabitants of Sénegal, lower Ethiopia (South Africa), Madagascar, Congo, Luongo, Benin, Guinée, Canary and Cape Verde islands. A small insert map shows the Dutch fort at Cape of Good Hope. In the surrounding text information, known in the late 17th century, is given on the geography of Africa, its rivers, lakes, islands, capes, mountains, towns, kingdoms, peoples, the Sahara desert and the source of the river Nile.
