Carte Reduite Des Mers Comprises entre L…

Rare, large scale c.18th chart by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, stands as a landmark of c.18th French hydrography.

Created during his tenure as the official geographer to the French Navy, this expansive chart was designed specifically for maritime use, serving the vessels of the King. By focusing on the vast Australia and the Pacific Ocean then commonly referred to by navigators as the Mer du Sud, Bellin attempted to consolidate the most reliable data available from European explorers into a single, functional tool for long distance navigation.

The map is particularly famous for its transitional representation of the world’s coastlines. It reflects a period of significant geographical correction, most notably in its depiction of California as a peninsula rather than the island it was often thought to be in earlier decades. However, the chart also highlights the limits of European knowledge at the time; while the Dutch discoveries in Australia and New Zealand are present, the eastern coast of Australia remains largely speculative, often connected by dotted lines to New Guinea and Tasmania. This blend of precise naval data and lingering geographical mystery makes the map a vital record of the Age of Enlightenment. Through its various editions, including major updates in 1756 and 1776, the map evolved alongside the discoveries of the era. Its large format and clean, technical style were characteristic of the Dépôt des Cartes et Plans de la Marine, prioritising clarity over the decorative flourishes seen in previous centuries.This chart is more commonly found with a plate number at top right, identifying it as one issued by the Depot des Cartes et Plans de la Marine, France’s equivalent of Britain’s Hydrographic Office.

Today, it remains one of the most important cartographic documents for understanding how c.18th Europe perceived the space between the Far East and the Americas.