Antique Jamaica Island Map by Rigobert Bonne, 1780s

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This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts the island of Jamaica, titled Carte de l’Isle de la Jamaïque, engraved circa 1780 … Read more This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts the island of Jamaica, titled Carte de l’Isle de la Jamaïque, engraved circa 1780 by Rigobert Bonne, one of the leading figures of Enlightenment-era French cartography. The map presents a clear and systematic geographic view of Jamaica at a time when the island was one of Britain’s most valuable Caribbean colonies, central to Atlantic trade, plantation agriculture, and imperial strategy. Bonne served as Ingénieur-Hydrographe de la Marine and chief cartographer at the Dépôt de la Marine in Paris, where he succeeded Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. His work marked a decisive shift in French cartography toward scientific precision, standardized measurement, and the careful synthesis of contemporary hydrographic and colonial intelligence. This map exemplifies Bonne’s mature style, combining clarity, balance, and restrained elegance with a high density of geographic information. The geography is rendered with notable precision. Jamaica’s mountainous interior is prominently shown through finely engraved relief, while rivers, plains, and coastal lowlands structure the island’s agricultural zones. Ports and settlements such as Kingston, Port Royal, Montego Bay, and Savanna-la-Mar are clearly indicated, underscoring the island’s maritime and commercial importance. Bays, capes, and anchorages are carefully delineated, reflecting the map’s hydrographic function and relevance to navigation. Visually calm yet authoritative, the map’s wide horizontal format, subtle relief shading, and generous margins give it strong architectural presence when framed. It works equally well as a scholarly historical document and as a refined decorative piece for a library, study, or contemporary interior. Collectors value Bonne’s Caribbean maps for their accuracy, legibility, and understated Enlightenment aesthetic.

Condition report Good antique condition. Light age toning and minor handling wear consistent with 18th-century copperplate engraving. Original centerfold as issued. Clean impression with strong detail; margins ample for framing. See less