Tunis, AL-MAHDIYA & PEÑON DE VÉLEZ, north Africa.

Braun & Hogenberg. Frans Hogenberg & Simon Novellanus` Tunes; Apphrodisium, vulgo Africa; PEÑON DE VÉLEZ "Tunes, Oppidum Barbarie & Regia sedes; Anno 1535 cum a Carolo V Imp. expugnareteur, A ioanne Maio euis Maies Fatis pictore ad Vinum delineatum; Africa olim Aphrodisium & PEÑON DE VÉLEZ" Cologne G von Kempen 1575
3 copper engraved views of Tunis, MAHDIA (AL-MAHDIYA) & PEÑON DE VÉLEZ DE LA GOMERA from the second volume of Braun & Hogenberg's "Civitas Orbis Terrarum. " Latin text to verso.

The bird's-eye view depicts the Peninsula of Mahdia, Aphrodisium or Africa in the throes of deadly battle on the water and on land. In 1546 the pirate Turgut Reis, following the death of Admiral Khair ad-Din, called Barbarossa, became the new commander-in-chief of the Ottoman naval forces. He besieged and plundered such places as Sicily and Calabria and attacked the Spanish bases in North Africa. In 1549 he captured the town of Mahdia, supremely protected by defensive labyrinthine walls. The plate depicts the massive recapture at sea and on land by the Spanish Admiral Andrea Doria and the Maltese Claude de la Sengle in September 1550. Mahdia, or the Horn of Africa, is located on an ancient site, which in the 16th century was thought to be Ptolemy's Aphrodisium.

PEÑON DE VÉLEZ DE LA GOMERA The plate depicts a small rocky island under siege cannon fire from the land as well as from the sea. Fortifications with towers, walls and planted flags can be identified on the sheer cliffs of the island. The Spanish, battling the resident pirates there, initially captured the island in 1508. Afterwards it fell under Moroccan rule for 42 years until the Spanish won it back 1564. after an engraving by Giovanni Francesco Camocio, c 1570. Good impression; a few light spots to margins.
Keoman vol2; B&H2/57 335 by 477mm (13¼ by 18¾ inches).    €450

Portuguese Ports in Africa

Braun & Hogenberg. Frans Hogenberg & Simon Novellanus` Aden, Mombasa, Kilwa & Sofala. Portugese trading ports in Africa. "Aden", "Mombaza", "Quiloa" & "Cefala" Cologne Theodori Graminæi. 1572
4 copper engraved views of Portuguese trading ports in Africa: Aden in Yemen: Mombasa, Kenya; Kilwa, Tanzania & Sofala in Mozambique from the first volume of Braun & Hogenberg's "Civitas Orbis Terrarum. " Latin text to verso. First state. 4 views on 1 plate. Dark impression; a few light stains, mainly to blank margins.
Centrefold split at lower margin.
Keoman vol2; B&H1/53 334 by 471mm (13¼ by 18½ inches). Aden; 190x471mm; Mombasa:132x153mm; Kilwa:190x163mm; Sofala: 190x1    €600

Moroccan cities.

Braun & Hogenberg. Frans Hogenberg & Simon Novellanus` Tangiers, Ceuta, Safi, Asilah & Salé, Morocco. "Tingis", "Tzaffin", "Septa", "Arzilla", & "Sala" Cologne Theodori Graminæi. 1572
5 copper engraved views of the Moroccan cities of Tangiers, Cueta, Safi, Asilah & Salé from the first volume of Braun & Hogenberg's "Civitas Orbis Terrarum. " Latin text to verso. First state. 5 views on 1 plate. Dark impression; a few light stains, mainly to blank margins. Crease at centre fold.
Short tears at lower margin[ approx 15mm].
Keoman vol2; B&H1/56 329 by 480mm (13 by 19 inches). Tangiers:176x238mm; Safi:176x230mm; Cueta, Asilah & Salé :approx 138    €350

The City of Algiers.

Chandeher, J. Eug. Cicéri. lith. Algiers. "Vue D'Algier" Paris Lemercier c1835
Large tinted Lithograph view of the Port of Algiers.
The view from the sea shows the town from the sea ,showing the light house and sea walls built to El Peñón.
Algiers was captured by the French in 1830 and became the capital of French Algeria. Overall light foxing heavier to blank margins; 2 creases into image; tear [35mm] to lower margin repaired; short tear [7mm] to upper margin.
490 by 690mm (19¼ by 27¼ inches)page.    €700

Tripolis, Libya.

Dapper, Olfert. The City of Tripolis. " De Stadt Tripolis. La Ville de Tripoli." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of Tripolis, Libya from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows the port of Tripolis, capital of Libya with ships engaged in battle to the foreground. Title on decorative banner to sky. Dark impression; light toning; a few spots to image one darker to left sky; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 270 by 352mm (10¾ by 13¾ inches).    €200

The Pirate Port of Gigery, Jijel, Algeria.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. The Town of Gigeri. "De Stadt Gigeri. La Ville Gegery" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of theport of Gigeri [Jijel,] Algeria , from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank; key in the upper corners in Dutch & French.
The view shows the town of Gigeri, [now Jijel] Algeria; ships and galleys to foreground
Under the Ottomans, the city of Jijel became an important port for pirate activity, it was the city of many renowned privateers, including the Brothers Barbarossa who were active there from 1514, fighting the Spanish Christians who had invaded parts of Algeria.
The city also received many refugees expelled from Spain for their Muslim religion. Dark impression; light toning; some spotting; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 230 by 310mm (9 by 12¼ inches).    €180

Hottentots, South Africa.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. Weapons and Dress of the Hottentots. "Draht en Wapening der Hottentots. Armes et Habits des Hottentots" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page engraving of Hottentots from South Africa, from OlfertDapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French. black and white, verso blank.
The engraving shows a group of natives of South Africa: two women, one with a child carried on her back andthree men, one a hunter carrying a spear and bow and arrows. Dark impression; light toning;occasional spotting mainly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin,; chips to lower side edges far from image.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 246 by 357mm (9¾ by 14 inches).    €100

Fort Tacaray also known as Fort Witsen on the Gold Coast, Ghana.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. The Fort Tacaray "Y Fort Tacaray" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the fort of Tacaray Ghana, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows small fort on the Gold Coast, Ghana with Dutch ships of the VOC to the foreground.
Fort Tacaray, also Fort Witsen, was a fort on the Dutch Gold Coast, established in 1656 near Takoradi. This fort was destroyed after a few years, and in 1684 the site was abandoned. Dark impression; light toning; some spotting; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 255 by 346mm (10 by 13½ inches).    €120

The City of Loango, Capital of the Kingdom of the same name.

Dapper, Olfert. The City of Loango. " De Stadt van Lovango. Le Lovango." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of Loango from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows the city of Loango capital of the kingdom of the same name which lay in what is now the Republic of Congo, and thrived between the 15th–19th centuries.
The city is laid out before us with a key in the upper corners in Dutch & French, identifying various features including the criminal being dragged away to slavery in the foreground. Dark impression; light toning; occasional spotting; old ink number to upper margin; chips to lower edges each side.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 267 by 334mm (10½ by 13¼ inches).    €200

The Barbary Coast, North Africa.

Dapper, Olfert. Barbary, Libya and part of Niger. "Barbaria Biledulgerd o Libye et pars Nigritarum Terra." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page map of the Barbary Caost, North Africa, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
Decorative map of the famed Barbary coast extending from Morocco to Libya. and inland showing the Sahara with some imaginary lakes.
Adorned with lions, elephants, and ostriches in the interior, ships in the sea, and a large decorative title cartouche surrounded by merchants, sailors and slaves. Dark impression; light toning; some offsetting and occasional spotting; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 266 by 320mm (10½ by 12½ inches).    €175