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This 1764 map, oriented with south at the top, is a detailed depiction of the coastal region of Egypt extending from Alexandria to Rosetta. Created by the renowned French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, this map is part of his monumental 5 volume Petite Atlas Maritime, a comprehensive atlas that aimed to provide accurate maritime charts and coastal views for navigators and scholars of the 18th century.
The map displays geographical features of the region, including the Mediterranean coastline, the Nile River's delta, and the significant bodies of water and land formations. The Grand Lac (Great Lake), also known as the Eaux du Madie, is prominently featured, indicating where sea waters enter. The Lac Mareotis (or Buchaira or Sabaca) is another significant feature, located to the east of the Grand Lac. The terrain is marked as "terrain sablonneux" (sandy terrain) and "terrain désert et sablonneux" (desert and sandy terrain), reflecting the arid nature of the region.
Several important locations are depicted, such as the cities of Alexandria and Rosetta (Rosette). Alexandria, a major historical and cultural center, is shown with its port and nearby fortifications. Rosetta, situated at the mouth of the Nile, is another critical point, illustrated with the Bouches du Nil (Mouths of the Nile) and surrounding fortifications. Villages such as "Village Fort de Baeier" and "Village de Palmiers" are marked, providing insight into smaller settlements in the area.T
he map includes numerous navigational aids, such as the "Rade de Bequiers," indicating an anchorage area with depth soundings. A compass rose is present to assist with orientation, and various soundings and maritime routes are detailed, emphasizing the map's utility for sailors and traders navigating the Egyptian coast.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was among the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. In 1721, at only the age of 18, he was appointed Hydrographer to the French Navy. In August 1741, he became the first Ingénieur de la Marine of the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine (the French Hydrographic Office) and was named Official Hydrographer of the French King.
During his term as Official Hydrographer, the Dépôt was the one of the most active centers for the production of sea charts and maps in Europe. Their output included a folio-format sea atlas of France, the Neptune Francois. He also produced a number of sea atlases of the world, including the Atlas Maritime and the Hydrographie Francaise. These gained fame and distinction all over Europe and were republished throughout the eighteenth and even in the nineteenth century.
Bellin also produced smaller format maps such as the 1764 Petit Atlas Maritime, containing 580 finely-detailed charts. He also contributed a number of maps for the 15-volume Histoire Generale des Voyages of Antoine François Prévost.
Bellin set a very high standard of workmanship and accuracy, cementing France's leading role in European cartography and geography during this period. Many of his maps were copied by other mapmakers across the continent.
![Карта Восточной Части Африки [Map of the Eastern Part of Africa]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/66634.jpg)
