Description

This original antique print shows a view of Diu, an island along the Gujarati coast, India. The Portugese town was an Indian colonial outpost that was sought after by the Arabs as well as the Dutch.

Made by an anonymous engraver after Jacques Nicolas Bellin.

Medium: Engraving / etching on hand laid (verge) paper. Watermark: yes.

Sheet size: 20.6 x 26.8 cm (8.11 x 10.55 inch). Image size: 18 x 1813.5 cm. (7.09 x 713.98 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Bottom edge with tiny holes from binding. Minor tear in corner restored. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

DIU-INDIA-GUJARATI COAST-PORTUGESE COLONY | RB-A9-08

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Published in Prevosts 15 volumes of Histoire Generale des Voyages written by Prevost & other authors between 1746-1790. The work was published by Chez Didot in Paris in 1746. The plates and maps were by Cochin fils, Tardieu, B. L. Prevost and others.

Biography artist: Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772), was a French hydrographer and geographer. He is considered the greatest 18 th. c. French hydrographer and for 50 years he was associated with the ‘Depot des cartes et Plans’ (Depot de la Marine) as the First hydrographer of the French Royal Navy. His maps were constantly updated with the latest information and their execution magnificent. Bellin’s major works are the ‘Neptune Francois …’, the ‘Petit Atlas Maritime …’ and the ‘Hydrographie Francoise …’ As a member of a French intellectual group called the ‘Philosophes’ and he contributed 994 articles to the ‘Encyclopedie’ by Diderot/d’Alembert. He also contributed to the ‘Histoire Generale des Voyages’ by Prevost.