Peru and Upper Amazon Enlightenment Map by Rigobert Bonne, 1780s

Details

Description

This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts Peru and the adjoining regions to the east, titled Carte du Pérou avec une … Read more This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts Peru and the adjoining regions to the east, titled Carte du Pérou avec une Partie des Pays qui en sont à l’Est, engraved circa 1780 by Rigobert Bonne, one of the central figures of Enlightenment-era French cartography. The map covers the Pacific coast of South America from northern Peru southward into Upper Peru (modern Bolivia), while extending deep into the Amazon basin, presenting a scientifically structured European view of the Andes and the vast interior lands beyond. 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 toward rational, measurement-based cartography, emphasizing clarity, standardized projection, and the synthesis of the most current geographic intelligence. This map exemplifies his mature style, combining dense information with exceptional legibility and restraint. The geography is rendered with notable precision. The Andean mountain chain dominates the western portion, with key cities such as Lima, Trujillo, Arequipa, Cuzco, Potosí, and La Paz clearly shown. To the east, the map opens into the Amazonian interior, detailing river systems including the Amazon and its tributaries, Indigenous regions, mission territories, and lesser-known provinces such as Maynas and Mojos. The contrast between the coastal Andes and the Amazon lowlands underscores contemporary European efforts to understand and map South America’s interior. Visually calm yet authoritative, the map’s tall vertical format, fine line engraving, and generous margins give it strong architectural presence when framed. It works equally well as a scholarly object for collectors of South American cartography and as a refined decorative piece in a library, study, or contemporary interior.

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 legibility; margins ample for framing. See less