Original antique copper engraved hand coloured (possibly contemporary), world map on Mercator's projection by M. Bonne.
From Bonne's “Atlas Portatif”.
Greenland and the Arctic are attached to North America. Alaska is shown with a rudimentary shape. The most interesting features are the large inland sea in the Pacific Northwest with its outlet named "Canal du Roi George" and a river connecting it to Hudson Bay.
Above this is another large lake with a huge river flowing to the Pacific at "Is. San Carlos".
.Australia is named "Nouvelle Holland" and includes "Terre de Diemen". Numerous small islands are shown throughout the world.
Rigobert Bonne (1727 – 1794) was a French cartographer, widely considered to be one of the most important cartographers of the late 18th century.
In 1773 Bonne succeeded Jacques Nicolas Bellin as Royal Cartographer to France in the office of the Hydrographer at the Depôt de la Marine. Working in his official capacity, Bonne compiled some of the most detailed and accurate maps of the period.
Bonne's work represents an important step in the evolution of the cartographic ideology away from the decorative work of the 17th and early 18th century towards a more detail oriented and practical aesthetic.
With regard to the rendering of terrain Bonne maps bear many stylistic similarities to those of his predecessor, Bellin. However, Bonne maps generally abandon such common 18th century decorative features such as hand coloring, elaborate decorativecartouches, andcompass roses.
The cartographic works of Bonne are highly regarded for their detail, historical importance, and overall aesthetic appeal.
