[Isle de Java]

The rare largest version of Mannevillette’s c.18th chart of Java, published in Mannevillette’s, Le Neptune oriental (Oriental Pilot), the most highly regarded pilot for the Eastern trade for both French and English ships. This chart was later copied by the English map seller William Herbert  and issued by him in 1779. The first edition of the atlas had only 22 charts so any versions of this map with a map number at top right higher than 22 is a later edition and cannot be made in 1745.

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 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 3766207