23 Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) – Map of the Chinese Empire / L'Empire de la Chine – Hand-Colored Copperplate Engraving (1748)

This map titled L'Empire de la Chine was published in 1748 by  Jacques-Nicolas Bellin to accompany the Histoire Générale des Voyages. It presents a richly detailed and hand-colored depiction of the Chinese Empire, including Taiwan (Isle de Tay-wan ou Formose), Korea (Royaume de Corée), and bordering regions such as Tartary and the Kingdom of Tibet. The longitude is marked according to the Meridien de l'Isle de Fer. The map includes elaborate decorative cartouches and an Avertissement noting improvements based on Jesuit observations and Chinese sources, correcting earlier English maps. This edition aimed to offer greater geographic accuracy and adopted nomenclature from Père Prévost's translation.

 Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) was a prominent French hydrographer and geographer. As the chief cartographer of the French Navy and a contributor to the works of the Enlightenment, including those of Abbé Prévost and Diderot’s Encyclopédie, he played a crucial role in advancing 18th-century cartographic precision. His maps were widely used and respected across Europe for their clarity and scientific approach.

Artist or Maker:  

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin

Dimensions:

41 cm x 31 cm

Medium:

Engraving

Date:

1748

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.