14 Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) – Map of the Island of Cayenne and Surrounding Coast of French Guiana / Carte de l’Isle de Caienne – From Histoire Générale des Voyages (c.1764)

Detailed French colonial map of Cayenne Island and its surroundings in present-day French Guiana, engraved by Jacob van der Schley after the design of Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. Published circa 1764 in The Hague as part of the Dutch edition of Histoire Générale des Voyages, the map shows fortified settlements, rivers, mountainous terrain, and Indigenous territories, including references to the “Nation des Arrouas” and “Montagnes des Galibis.” The cartouche is decorated in the classic Rococo style, and the map features an elaborate compass rose and dual longitude references from both Paris and the Isle of Ferro. The work was published by Pierre de Hondt.

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin served as Hydrographer to the French Navy and Official Hydrographer to the King, producing a vast corpus of maps and sea charts that set a European standard in the 18th century. His collaborator Jacob van der Schley (1715–1779), a Dutch engraver and student of Picart, was instrumental in translating Bellin’s work into the finely executed plates that appeared in the influential Dutch editions of travel literature.

Artist or Maker:

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin

Dimensions:

42 cm x 26 cm

Medium:

Hand-coloured engraving

Date:

c.1764

Condition Report:

This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.