231-B - [Africa]. LINSCHOTEN, Jan Huygen van. VAN LANGREN, Arnold Florent.

[Africa]. LINSCHOTEN, Jan Huygen van. VAN LANGREN, Arnold Florent. Typus orarum maritimarum Guineae, Manicongo & Angolae ultra Promentorium Bonae spei susq . . . (Amsterdam, late 16th century). A black copperplate engraving, 39.5 x 53 cm (inside the frame), hand-colored, framed at a later date, 52 x 64.5 cm (minor imperfections and missing gilding on the frame). An important map of West and Southern Africa, engraved by Arnold Florent van Langren for Jan Huyghen van Linschoten’s famous *Itinerario*. It ranks among the finest depictions of Southern Africa from the late 16th century. The map depicts the African coastline from the Gulf of Guinea to beyond the Cape of Good Hope, with a primarily Portuguese geographical nomenclature. Remarkable engraved decoration in the Flemish style, featuring numerous animals, including an elephant, a rhinoceros, a lion, and snakes, as well as mermaids in Lake Zaire. The seas are animated by ships and sea monsters. A large ornamental cartouche contains two panoramic views of Ascension Island and Saint Helena. The composition is embellished with compass roses, decorative cartouches, and the coat of arms of Portugal. A beautiful watercolored copy.