1789 Map of the Cape of Good Hope by Franz Anton Schraembl

This 1789 map of the Cape of Good Hope by Franz Anton Schraembl, titled Das Vorgebirg der Guten Hofnung, is a German-language edition of L.S. de la Rochette’s 1782 map, republished in Vienna as part of Schraembl’s monumental Allgemeiner Grosser Atlas (1786–1800). Covering the Cape Peninsula and the expanding Dutch Cape Colony, it shows Table Bay, False Bay, Saldanha Bay, St Helena Bay, Cape Town, surrounding mountains, rivers, and Dutch farms and outposts, along with territories of indigenous groups such as the Cochoquas, Hessequas and Attaquas. Faithful to de la Rochette’s original but with German labels and refined engraving, Schraembl’s edition exemplifies late Enlightenment cartographic precision—clear, scientific, and politically informed. Although Austria had no colonial ambitions, the map reflects the European diffusion of strategic geographic knowledge, as even non-maritime powers recognized the Cape’s global importance as a maritime crossroads. By reissuing a British-derived map during an age of shifting imperial rivalries, Schraembl’s 1789 edition symbolizes both the international circulation of colonial intelligence and the pan-European fascination with the geography of empire at the close of the 18th century.

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 authenticity.  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.