From the Dutch translation of Antoine François Prévost's “Histoire générale des voyages”, a multi-volume collection of travel narratives.
The Dutch translation was published in Amsterdam by E. van Harrevelt and J. Changuion. in 1748 Antoine François Prévost (1697–1763), also known as Abbé Prévost, was a French writer, historian, and traveller, best remembered for his literary works, particularly Manon Lescaut. However, beyond his contributions to literature, Prévost also played a notable role in disseminating geographical and cartographical knowledge during the 18th century.Prévost demonstrated a keen interest in geography and exploration, which was reflected in his ambitious historical and travel writings. One of his most significant contributions to the field of cartography came through his monumental work "Histoire générale des voyages", published between 1746 and 1759. This multi-volume series compiled detailed narratives of travels and discoveries from various parts of the world, accompanied by maps and illustrations.
Though Prévost was not a cartographer by profession, his work was instrumental in popularizing geographical knowledge in Enlightenment Europe. The maps included in Histoire générale des voyages were often created by prominent contemporary cartographers and engravers, providing readers with visual representations of remote and little-known regions. Through these collaborations, Prévost helped disseminate some of the era’s most critical cartographical works to a broader, non-specialist audience.
His writings, along with the associated maps, made a significant contribution to the European understanding of global geography, colonial territories, and navigation routes during a period of rapid maritime exploration and expansion. Prévost's work stands as a testament to the interconnection between literature, travel writing, and cartography in the Enlightenment period.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772), a French geographer, was among the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. In 1721, at the age of 18, he was appointed hydrographer of the Ministry of the Navy following the French hydrographic office's creation and the Dépot of charts and plans of the Navy. Appointed hydrographic engineer in August 1741. Member of the Academy of the Navy and the Royal Society of London.
Over the course of a 50-year career, he drew the maps of several major works of his time such as Histoire et description générale de la Nouvelle-France de Charlevoix (1744); Histoire générale des voyages de l'Abbé Prévost (published between 1746 and 1759) ); Neptune François (1753), Hydrographie Françoise (1756-1765), and Petit Atlas Français (1763) - reissued as Petit Atlas Maritime (1765). He is the most copied cartographer of the 18th century.
