This
large
beautifully
hand coloured
original
antique
map
of The Course of the Orinoco River, South America by
Jacques
Nicolas Bellin was engraved in by A van Kreveltin
in 1773 for Antoine-François Prevosts 20 volume edition
of L`Histoire Generale des Voyages published by
Pierre de Hondt, The Hague
between
1747 & 1785.
Although the mouth of the Orinoco in the
Atlantic Ocean was documented by Columbus on 1 August
1498 during his third voyage, its source at the Cerro
Delgado-Chalbaud, in the Parima range, on the
Venezuelan-Brazilian border, at 1,047 m of
elevation (02°19′05″N
63°21′42″W
/ 2.31806°N
63.36167°W
/
2.31806; -63.36167
), was only explored in
1951, 453 years later, by a joint Venezuelan-French
team.
The Orinoco delta, and tributaries in the eastern llanos
such as the Apure and Meta, were explored in the 16th
century by German expeditions under Ambrosius Ehinger
and his successors. In 1531 Diego de Ordaz, starting at
the principal outlet in the delta, the Boca de Navios,
sailed up the river to the Meta, and Antonio de Berrio
sailed down the Casanare, to the Meta, and then down the
Orinoco and back to Coro.
Alexander von Humboldt explored the basin in 1800,
reporting on the pink river dolphins, and publishing
extensively on the flora and fauna.
(Ref: Tooley;
M&B)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Light and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Early
Colors used: - Red, green, yellow
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 18 1/2in x 11 1/2in (460mm x 295mm)
Plate size: - 18in x 10in (455mm x 255mm)
Margins: - Min 1/4in (5mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - Folds as issued
Verso: - None
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