Original antique map by Carol Allard, published in 1690 with early, possibly original, hand colouring.
The "Regnorum Portugalliae et Algarbiae" by Carel Allard is a beautifully detailed map of the Kingdoms of Portugal and Algarve, reflecting the high standards of Dutch cartography during the late 17th century. Created in Amsterdam, this map captures the geographic, political, and maritime significance of Portugal at the height of its influence as a global maritime power. It showcases not only the physical layout of the region but also its historical and cultural prominence.
This map was created during a period when Portugal was recovering from the Iberian Union (1580–1640), a 60-year period of Spanish control, and reasserting its sovereignty and maritime power. The map reflects the era’s fascination with cartographic precision and the Dutch mastery of mapmaking, as Amsterdam was a hub for cartographic production. It also illustrates the importance of Portugal as a central player in global trade, exploration, and colonial expansion, with territories in Africa, Asia, and South America.
The "Regnorum Portugalliae et Algarbiae" is a testament to the artistry and skill of 17th-century cartographers like Carel Allard. Its blend of geographic accuracy and decorative elegance makes it a valuable artifact for collectors and historians. It offers a window into Portugal’s historical geography and its role in shaping global history, as well as the craftsmanship of the Dutch Golden Age of cartography.
Carel (Carol) Allard (Allardt) (1648–1709) was an engraver and publisher based in Amsterdam. Part of a prominent family of Dutch mapmakers, publishers, and print sellers, his father was engraver and publisher Hugo Allard (1627–1684), who left his business to Carel upon his death. Carel published anything in demand, including maps, topography, ethnography, newsprints, and restrikes of old plates of artistic prints, many of which likely came from his father’s stock. In 1706, Carel gave his copperplates to his son Abraham Allard, before going bankrupt.
