Caribbean and Lesser Antilles Enlightenment Map by Rigobert Bonne, 1780s

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This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts the Lesser Antilles and the eastern Caribbean, titled Carte des Isles Antilles ou du … Read more This finely engraved late-18th-century map depicts the Lesser Antilles and the eastern Caribbean, titled Carte des Isles Antilles ou du Vent avec la Partie Orientale des Isles Sous le Vent, engraved circa 1780 by Rigobert Bonne, one of the most influential cartographers of the French Enlightenment. The map covers the Windward and Leeward Islands from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands south through Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, and Tobago, extending to the northern coast of South America around Trinidad and the Gulf of Paria. 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 move toward scientifically grounded cartography, emphasizing accurate coastlines, standardized measurement, and the synthesis of contemporary nautical and colonial intelligence. This map exemplifies Bonne’s mature style, combining hydrographic precision with exceptional clarity and restraint. The geography is rendered with notable detail and balance. Individual islands are crisply delineated, with harbors, capes, and anchorages carefully engraved, reflecting the strategic maritime importance of the Caribbean in the late 18th century. French, British, Spanish, and Dutch colonial possessions are clearly identified, underscoring the geopolitical complexity of the region. The inclusion of the South American coastline further emphasizes the Caribbean’s role as a connective maritime zone between Europe and the Americas. Visually elegant and architecturally calm, the map’s tall vertical format, fine line engraving, and generous margins give it strong decorative appeal when framed. It functions equally well as a scholarly object for collectors of Caribbean and colonial cartography and as a refined wall piece for 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