Carte du Paraguai, du Chili, de Detroit de Magelian &c.
CHATELAIN, Henri-Abraham

Carte du Paraguai, du Chili, de Detroit de Magelian &c.

Amsterdam
1720
Size : 45 x 55 cm
Color : Hand Colored
Condition : A+
Technique : Copper engraving
Reference : 519-26
£325

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Description

Beautiful copy of Chatelain's detailed map of South America showing the routes of 16th and 17th century explorers.

This map depicts the southern part of South America detailing the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. It shows Peru and Brazil in the north and stretches down till Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. It thus encompasses the Paraguay, Chili, Uruguay, and Argentina (under the name "Terre Magellanique"). Chatelain illustrates the region in extreme detail, he included, mountains, rivers, volcanos, and the names of indigenous lands. Moreover, he includes the travel routes of 16th and 17th century explorers such as: the route of Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, of Pedro Sarmiento in 1589, of Sr. de la Roche in 1675,  of Halley year 1700 marking the point where he discovered the Glacial Sea, and the return route of the ship of English buccaneer and privateer Bartholomew Sharp year 1681. 

Chatelain includes a ship in the Atlantic Ocean towards the right border to mark the end of the route of Americ Yespuce in 1502 that sailed from the coast of Brazil. Further to the left of the ship, he uses the head of a swan to mark a region in the Glacial sea where numerous animals including birds and fish were observed. In the bottom left corner, he included an explanatory note that briefly introduces Paraguay, Chili, and Terre Magellanique (Argentina). The title is included in bold black type along the top boarder, a typical feature of Chatelain's maps.

The Historical Atlas of Chatelain

A complex and ambitious work, Henri Abraham Châtelain's Atlas Historique is one of the most complete encyclopedias of its time. Originally published in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720 by L'Honoré and Châtelain, the Atlas Historique was corrected, enlarged and republished until 1739, date of the fourth and last edition. Designed for the general public, fascinated at the beginning of the 18th century by the newly conquered colonies, the new discoveries, the distant countries (such as the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Mongolia, China, Japan, Indonesia...), it is illustrated with numerous maps, many of which are based on those of the French cartographer Guillaume Delisle.

CHATELAIN, Henri-Abraham

Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743) was a protestant pastor. He was the grandson of a rich Parisian merchant who introduced the industry of Spanish gold and silver stitching in Paris. Chatelain's family immigrated to the Netherlands in 1678. Between 1704 and 1707 he studied theology in Leiden. His studies permitted him to become the pastor of Saint-Martin Church, in London. In 1721, he was called back to serve in Holland, specifically to the Hague in 1721 and later to Amsterdam in 1728, the place of his death.

In the history of cartography, Henri is known along with his brother Zacharias Chatelain (1690-1754) for their Atlas Historique which was published between 1705 and 1739. The first edition of the atlas was published by "L’Honoré & Châtelain" Which refers to the association between Zacharias Chatelain and his brother in law François l'Honoré. The latter was a bookseller active in Amsterdam who was also known as "Francois L'Honoré et compagnie"  between 1706 and 1726. Later edition of the Atlas have the imprint of "L’Honoré & Châtelain Libraires" or "Frères Châtelain Libraires". The statement of responsibility of the Atlas as it states: "par Mr. C*** ; avec des dissertations sur l'histoire de chaque état, par Mr. Gueudeville", thereby the anonymous Mr. C refers to the Chatelain brothers and  the texts of the atlas are attributed to Gueudeville, Nicolas.