Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Mapmaker / artist
Rigobert Bonne, France, circa 1780
Technique
Copper engraving
Sheet size
26 × 41 cm (10.2 × 16.1 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14105-11
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good antique condition. Light age toning, original centerfold as issued, minor surface wear at margins. The map is offered unframed, preserving the sheet in its original, untouched state.
About this sheet
Mozambique Channel & Madagascar – Antique African Sea Chart, Bonne c1780 This finely engraved late-18th-century sea chart depicts the Mozambique Channel with Madagascar and the southeastern coast of Africa, extending from the Cape of Good Hope northward toward Melinde. Executed by Rigobert Bonne, hydrographer to the French Navy, the map reflects Enlightenment-era maritime knowledge and European naval interest in East African trade routes. Coastal profiles, soundings, island groups, and prevailing currents are carefully delineated, emphasizing navigation rather than inland detail. Madagascar is shown prominently with early European place names, while the African coast illustrates ports, rivers, and anchorages vital to Indian Ocean commerce. The restrained, elegant engraving and balanced composition make this an excellent example of French nautical cartography from the period, equally suitable for collectors of African maps or refined interior display.
Good antique condition. Light age toning, original centerfold as issued, minor surface wear at margins. The map is offered unframed, preserving the sheet in its original, untouched state.
Framing tips: Pairs well with a dark walnut or ebonized frame and a wide warm-white mat to emphasize the horizontal format.
