1775 Map of the Cape of Good Hope by Jean-Baptiste d’Apres de Mannevillette

This 1775 map of the Cape of Good Hope by Jean-Baptiste d’Après de Mannevillette, titled Plan du Cap de Bonne-Espérance et de ses Environs, is a precise nautical chart centred on Table Bay, False Bay, and the Cape Peninsula and extending north to Saldanha Bay, and created to aid navigation along one of the world’s most important maritime crossroads. Engraved by de la Haye and issued in the 1775 edition of Le Neptune Oriental, Mannevillette’s renowned hydrographic atlas, the map records soundings, anchorages, sandbanks, and coastal landmarks, allowing ships to safely enter or avoid the treacherous waters of the Cape. Stylized profiles of Table Mountain and nearby ranges help sailors identify the coast by sight. Drawing on Dutch VOC surveys as well as French hydrographic data, it exemplifies the Enlightenment’s transition from decorative to scientific cartography, emphasizing accuracy and clarity. Produced when the Cape Colony served as the VOC’s critical resupply station for voyages to Asia, the map reflects both France’s maritime ambitions and the strategic importance of the Cape as the linchpin between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

This map is a reproduction of a historical map that is now in the public domain. It has been selected for its aesthetic appeal and historical interest and carefully restored and reproduced to preserve its original detail and character.  There may be marks and fold lines visible which add to the authentic look.  The map is printed on 230gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish.  Most old maps were printed on uncoated rag or wood pulp papers and therefore a matte finish best represents the original map.