Carte de la Mer du Sud ou Mer Pacifique entre l'Equateur et le 39 1/2 . De Latitude Septentrionale.

Several editions of this map were produced between 1748 and 1752. This example is by far the most uncommon and desirable due to its superior craftsmanship, the fact that it is printed on higher quality paper, its notable wide margins, and Bellin's addition of an elaborate decorative title cartouche in the upper right quadrant.

If you have been considering studying an example of Anson's map in your scholarship, this is the one you'l need. Drawn by Bellin and published as a supplement to the 1851 French edition of Anson’s book A Voyage Round The World, In the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV.

Marianas Anson: 21Âş 18' N 20 E (San Bernardino)
Los Moyas (Illa) Anson: 21º 18' N 101 E (San Bernardino) => 21º 18' N  101 E (124ºE - 180º-157ºW)
La mesa (illa) Anson: 21º 18' N 101 E (San Bernardino) => 21º 18' N  101 E (124ºE - 180º-157ºW)
Acapulco Anson: 21Âş 18' N 134 E (San Bernardino)
Acapulco Anson: 21Âş 18' N 134 E (San Bernardino)

Honolulu 21°18′N 157°49′W

Acapulco 16°51′49″N 99°52′57″W

Sant Bernardino strait 12°35′15″N 124°11′48″E

Description: This is a rare 1750 nautical chart of the Pacific Ocean by the French map publisher N. Bellin. Harkens to the great age of Pacific piracy and privateering. Based on a similar chart in English prepared three years earlier by Seale. Chart depicts the trade routes used by Spanish Galleons from Acapulco, Mexico heading towards Manila in the Philippines. In particular, this chart depicts the travels of the Spanish Nostra Seigniora de Cabadonga and the British Navy Commodore George Anson. Anson lead an ill-equipped expedition into the Pacific with the mission to attack Spanish dominions in South America. Though he failed in this mission, Anson did succeed in capturing the Spanish treasure galleon off Cape Espiritu Santo on June 20, 1743. The Spanish galleon was loaded with gold, silver and, more importantly, nautical charts depicting the trade routes used by Spanish Galleons between Mexico and Manila for the previous 200 years. This significant discovery allowed the British to disrupt Spain’s trade in the Pacific and thus economically handicap the Spanish dominance of the New World. Following his capture of the Nostra its treasures were paraded through the streets of London in no less than 32 wagons. Anson was hailed as a national hero. Beautifully details the Pacific islands including Japan, the Philippines, Guam, as well as much of the Mexican and California coast. Names numerous important destinations along the California coast including Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, and Acapulco. Rhumb lines throughout.

Several editions of this map were produced between 1748 and 1752. This example is by far the most uncommon and desirable due to its superior craftsmanship, the fact that it is printed on higher quality paper, its notable wide margins, and Bellin's addition of an elaborate decorative title cartouche in the upper right quadrant. If you have been considering adding an example of this map to your collection, this is the one you want. Drawn by Bellin and published as a supplement to the 1851 French edition of Anson’s book A Voyage Round The World, In the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV.

Date: 1750 (undated)

Source: Anson, G., Voyage Autour du Monde, Fait Dans Les anees 1740, 41, 42, 43, & 44, 1751 Paris Edition.    

References: Mercator's World, Nov/Dec 1998, p. 44.

Cartographer: Baron George Anson (23 April 1697 - 6 June 1762) was a British commodore and a wealthy noble. Following Anson's aristocratic upbringing on the family estate of Shugborough in Sataffordshire, he joined the British Navy. Anson went through a series of rapid promotions and, in 1737, was given command of a fleet of six ships charged with the mission of attacking Spanish possessions in South America. This mission was ill-equipped and unprepared for the trials ahead. Storms and navigational errors took a heavy toll on the expedition. By the time Anson reached the island of Juan Fernandez his fleet had been diminished to only three ships and his crew reduced to roughly 1/3 of its original strength. Nonetheless, Anson's persistence eventually led to the capture of an immensely rich price, the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Senora de Covadonga. The galleon, taken off of Cape Espiritu Santo in 1743 was loaded with silver bullion and, more importantly, charts and maps detailing the routes between Mexico and the Far East used by the Spanish for over 200 years. Knowledge of this route enabled the British navy to disrupt Spanish trade in the Pacific and thus weaken its stranglehold on the Americas. Upon his return to England Anson was hailed as a national hero and made immensely wealthy by his share of the Nuestra's treasure. Anson retired from the Navy for a career in politics and was a Member of Parliament from 1744 to 1747. Anson subsequently continued his naval career with distinction as an administrator, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty (1757-1762). Seven British warships have borne the name HMS Anson in his honor. Anson County, North Carolina, and Ansonborough in Charleston, South Carolina, are also named in Anson's honor. Click here for a list of rare maps by Baron George Anson.

Cartographer: Richard William Seale (December 1703 - May 25, 1762) was an English a mapmaker and engraver active in London during the middle part of the 18th century. Seale was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Seale. Richard, his father, was a member of the Stationers Company, suggesting that printing and engraving must have been a family trade. Nonetheless, he did not learn the trade from his father, but rather from Samuel Parker of Clerkenwell, to whom he was apprenticed in 1719. Seale was extremely active as an engraver and publisher from about 1740 until his death in 1762. His cartographic corpus is vast; including pieces engraved for most other notable English cartographers of his period: Willdey, Baron, Toms, Rocque, Basire, Bowles, Benning, among others. In addition to cartographic work, Seale also produce numerous architectural engravings. Click here for a list of rare maps from R. W. Seale.

Cartographer: Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703 - 1772) was one of the most important cartographers of the 18th century. With a career spanning some 50 years, Bellin is best understood as geographe de cabinet and transitional mapmaker spanning the gap between 18th and early 19th century cartographic styles. His long career as Hydrographer and Ingénieur Hydrographe at the French Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine resulted in hundreds of high quality nautical charts of practically everywhere in the world. A true child of the Enlightenment Era, Bellin's work focuses on function and accuracy tending in the process to be less decorative than the earlier 17th and 18th century cartographic work. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bellin was always careful to cite his references and his scholarly corpus consists of over 1400 articles on geography prepared for Diderot's Encyclopedie. Bellin, despite his extraordinary success, may not have enjoyed his work, which is described as "long, unpleasant, and hard." In addition to numerous maps and charts published during his lifetime, many of Bellin's maps were updated (or not) and published posthumously. He was succeeded as Ingénieur Hydrographe by his student, also a prolific and influential cartographer, Rigobert Bonne. Click here for a list of rare maps by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.

Size: Printed area measures 34 x 12 inches (86.36 x 30.48 centimeters)
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