[ASIA-CEYLON] Carte Plate qui Comprend L’Isle de Ceylan, et une Partie des Cotes de Malabar et de Coromandel.

Large scale c.18th sea chart of southern India and Ceylon, published in Mannevillette’s, Le Neptune oriental (Oriental Pilot), the most highly regarded pilot for the Eastern trade for both French and English ships. There are two small coastal profiles at centre of Cape Comorin.

Note there are two versions of this chart, with changes and of totally different sizes, this is the first issue and the larger of the two versions. The smaller version is identified by;

1. The scale of distances has been moved to just below the title.
2. The advertisement has been moved below the titel to the lower left corner.
3. On the east coast of India the following have been added; Coromandel, Tanjajour and the size of the text for Cote de la Pescherie has been enlarged. As well as further additions of towns along the coast.
4. Isle de Ceylan has been reversed and the coastal  profile removed.
5. The Isles Maldives has been turned at 90 degrees to accommodate the Advertisement.
6. At top left a note has been added, ‘Bac sur lequel il…’, as well  as ‘Isles la Quedives ou Lacardives, as well additional islands.

From about 1735 Mannevillette had set about collecting detailed charts of the known coasts from Africa to Australia and which with the financial support of the Comapne des Indes and the Academie des Sciences, published his ground breaking sea atlas, Le Neptune Oriental in 1745. The first issue comprised twenty two charts, superior to any previously available and consequently quickly became the indispensable atlas for ship owners, captains and pilots engaged in the Southeast Asian sea routes. In 1775 d’Apres issued the second edition of Le Neptune Oriental, expanded to approximately 69 charts which Mannevillette had applied his advances in navigational techniques which he had refined in the intervening 30 years.  There is no standard collation of the second edition with the number of maps varying in atlases held by major institutional libraries. Mannevillette kept updating the charts and eventually this required a supplement, published posthumously in 1781 and reissued in 1797.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3726421 (Unidentified size/date)