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

M'Bansa or Sao Salvador, Congo/ Angola.

Dapper, Olfert. Bansa or S. Salvador capital of the Congo "'Bansa ofte de stadt Salvador. Hoofdstadt van het Rijk Congo. - Bansa ou Salvador capitale de Congo" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of Bansa or S. Salvador, capital of the Congo now in Angola, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.

The plate shows a view of the city of M'Banza-Congo / Sao Salvador in Angola, formerly in the Kingdom of Congo with boats in the foreground on the river Lelunda; key to both upper corners in Dutch & French, identifying significant landmarks.

"With a population of 30,000 plus. It sat on a cliff with river below a forested valley. The King's dwelling was described as a mile and half enclosure with walled pathways, courtyard, gardens, decorated huts, and palisades" [Coguery- Vidrovitch & Catherine 2005]
The city is now is the capital of Angola's northwestern Zaire Province. It is sometimes called Mongo a Kaila (mountain of division) because of legends recalling that the king created the clans of the kingdom and sent them out from there. Dark impression; light toning;ocassional spotting; old ink number to upper margin; chips to edges at lower corners.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 245 by 352mm (9¾ by 13¾ inches).    €120

Fort Nassau, on the Island of Gorée, Senegal

Dapper, Olfert. Fort Nassau, on the Island of Gorée, " Het Fort Orange en Nassou opt eiland Goree. Le Fort d'Orange et de Nassau dans lL'isle de Goree" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the island of Gorée, Senegal from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French;folded; black and white, verso blank. From the second part of Dapper's work the "Description des iIes de l'Afrique."
The plate shows the forts on the island of Gorée, which lies just off the port of Dakar, Senegal. Large ships exchanging fire to the foreground; banner title to sky.
Gorée is famous or infamous as being a gateway for the slave trade; it was first settled by the Portuguese then occupied by the Dutch and finally by the French from 1677 until independence in 1960. Dark impression; light toning; occasional spotting mostly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin; chips to edges at lower corners,
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 285 by 365mm (11¼ by 14¼ inches).    €150

Marrakech, Former Imperial Capital of Morocco.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. The Royal Palace and part of the city of Morocco. "Het Koninklyk Hof met een gedeelte der Stadt Marokko. Le Palais et une partie de la ville Maroc." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of Marrakech, Morocco from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank; key to both upper corners in Dutch & French identifying significant landmarks. Ornate title cartouche to sky.
The plate shows the city from outside the walls with the Atlas mountains in the background. in the foreground locals are collecting water from a well, with travellers in the mid ground.

Marrakech is the most important of Morocco's four former imperial cities. The city was founded in 1062 The red walls of the city, built by Ali ibn Yusuf in 1122-1123, and various buildings constructed in red sandstone during this period, have given the city the nickname of the "Red City" or "Ochre City".
Marrakesh grew rapidly and established itself as a cultural, religious, and trading centre for the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa.
After a period of decline, the city was surpassed by Fes, but in the early 16th century, Marrakesh again became the capital of the kingdom. The city regained its preeminence under wealthy Saadian sultans Abu Abdallah al-Qaim and Ahmad al-Mansur, who embellished the city with sumptuous palaces such as the El Badi Palace (1578) and restored many ruined monuments.
Beginning in the 17th century, the city became popular among Sufi pilgrims for Morocco's seven patron saints, who are entombed there. Dark impression; light toning; some spotting mainly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 267 by 347mm (10½ by 13¾ inches).    €250

Asilah, Morocco.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. Asilah. "Arzilla of Argille." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the port of Asilah, Morocco from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows the town and port of Asilah; ships to foreground.
In 1471, Asilah was occupied by the Portuguese who built the town's fortifications. It was voluntarily returned to Morocco in 1550, but was absorbed by the Spanish as they took control of Portugal in the late 16th century. In 1692 the town was recaptured by the Moroccans under the leadership of Moulay Ismail. it would later become a centre for piracy. Dark impression; light toning; some spotting mainly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 233 by 323mm (9¼ by 12¾ inches).    €150

Guinea, West Africa.

Dapper, Olfert. Guinea, West Africa. "Guinea." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page map of Guinea, West Africa, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
Based on the cartography of Blaeu,the map covers the coast from Sierra Leone to Gabon. Decorative title cartouche; scale engraved on an elephant tusk born by 2 putti; lions, elephants and other wild animals to body of map and ships to sea. Dark impression; light toning; slight offsetting; occasional spotting; old ink number to upper margin.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 264 by 362mm (10½ by 14¼ inches).    €250

The Slave Castle Cormantin, on the Gold Coast, Ghana.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. Castle Cormantin. " Kasteel van Cormantin. Chateua de Cormantin." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the castle of Cormantin, Ghana, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows the castle of Cormantin, on the Gold Coast, Ghana with ships to the foreground exchanging fire; title on decorative banner to sky.
The castle was built by the English between 1631 and 1645 as Fort Cormantine or Fort Courmantyne, it became the centre for British trade in gold and slaves particularly after the British capture of Jamaica in 1655 when there was a rise in demand for slave labour. Cormantin met that demand and led to slaves in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Americas becoming known as Coromantees.
The lucrative gold and slave trade attracted the attention of the Dutch who captured the castle under admiral Engel de Ruyter of the Dutch West India Company in 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch war. It was subsequently made part of the Dutch Gold Coast and renamed Fort Amsterdam; the fort was traded with the British in 1868. Dark impression; light toning; slight offsetting;some spotting mainly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin.; chips to lower edges .
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219.; Patience Essah; "The Historical Encyclopedia of World Slavery, "Volume 1 p195 . 244 by 337mm (9½ by 13¼ inches).    €120

The Portuguese Slave Castle of Elmina, on the Gold Coast, Ghana.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. Castle Mina in the time of the Portuguese. "Casteel del Mina ten tyde der Portugesen. Chateau de S, George de la Mina Tesuil é toit du emps des Portugais." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the castle of Elmina,Ghana, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows castle of Elmina on the Gold Coast, Ghana, as it looked when it was under Portuguese rule, with ships to the foreground exchanging fire; title on decorative banner to sky.

Elmina Castle was erected by Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina) in present-day Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade.
By the seventeenth century, most trade in West Africa concentrated on the sale of slaves. São Jorge da Mina played a significant part in the Atlantic Slave Trade. The castle acted as a depot where slaves were bought in bartering fashion from local African chiefs and kings. The slaves, often captured in the African interior by the slave-catchers of coastal tribes, were sold to Portuguese traders in exchange for goods such as textiles and horses. The slaves were held captive in the castle before exiting through the castle's infamous "Door of No Return" to be transported and resold in newly colonized Brazil and other Portuguese colonies.
In 1637 the fort was taken over by the Dutch, who made it the capital of the Dutch Gold Coast. Dark impression; light toning; some spotting ,one dark to upper blank margin; old ink number to upper margin.; chips to lower edges.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 268 by 360mm (10½ by 14¼ inches).    €150

Interior of Fort Nassau, on the Island of Gorée, Senegal

Dapper, Olfert. Fort Nassauof Binien and Orange on the Island of Gorée, " Fort Nassou van Binien met Orange t' Eilant Goree. Fort Nassau dans lL'isle de Goree" Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the island of Gorée, Senegal from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French;folded; black and white, verso blank. From the second part of Dapper's work the "Description des iIes de l'Afrique."
The plate shows the interior of Fort Nassau, built by the Dutch on the island of Gorée, which lies just off the port of Dakar, Senegal.The view is from one of the batteries with a number of canon pointing out to sea. banner title to sky.
Gorée is famous or infamous as being a gateway for the slave trade; it was first settled by the Portuguese then occupied by the Dutch and finally by the French from 1677 unti independence in 1960. Dark impression; light toning; occasional spotting mostly to blank margins; old ink number to upper margin; chips to edges at lower corners,
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 251 by 350mm (10 by 13¾ inches).    €150

The Dutch Slave Castle at Elmina, on the Gold Coast, Ghana.

Dapper, Olfert. Jacob van Meurs. Castle Mina. "Casteel del Mina." Amsterdam Wolfgangh, Waesbergen, Boom. Someren en Goethals 1686
Copper engraved double page view of the castle of Elmina, Ghana, from Olfert Dapper's "Description de l'Afrique," the first edition in French; black and white, verso blank.
The view shows the Dutch castle of Elmina with the fort of Coenraadsburg on the Gold Coast, Ghana with ships to the foreground exchanging fire; title on decorative banner to sky.

Elmina Castle was erected by Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina) in present-day Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade. The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637, and took over all the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642. The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1814; in 1872 the Dutch Gold Coast, including the fort, became a possession of the British Empire.
By the seventeenth century, most trade in West Africa concentrated on the sale of slaves. São Jorge da Mina played a significant part in the Atlantic Slave Trade. The castle acted as a depot where slaves were bought in bartering fashion from local African chiefs and kings. The slaves, often captured in the African interior by the slave-catchers of coastal tribes, were sold to Portuguese traders in exchange for goods such as textiles and horses.
The slaves were held captive in the castle before exiting through the castle's infamous "Door of No Return" to be transported and resold in newly colonized Brazil and other Portuguese colonies. In 1637 the fort was taken over by the Dutch, who made it the capital of the Dutch Gold Coast. During the period of Dutch control, they built a new, smaller fortress on a nearby hill to protect St. George Castle from inland attacks. This fort was called Fort Coenraadsburg. Dark impression; light toning; paper fault close to title causing small hole; some spotting ; old ink number to upper margin.; chips to lower edges.
Mendelssohn I, p.413. Cox I, p. 361; Gay 219. 225 by 332mm (8¾ by 13 inches).    €150