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This map, titled Plan de l’Isle Ste. Helene, is from Jacques-Nicolas Bellin’s Petit Atlas Maritime, published in 1764. It provides a detailed topographical view of Saint Helena, a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean, known historically as a strategic stopover for ships sailing between Europe, Asia, and the southern tip of Africa.
The map is oriented with north to the bottom, which is unconventional by modern standards but was not unusual in 18th-century cartography. It meticulously depicts the rugged, mountainous terrain of the island, with numerous valleys labeled, such as Vallée des Orangers, Vallée de Tapis, and Vallée des Poudres. The island’s topography is illustrated with shading and hachures to convey the steepness of the terrain.
The map identifies several notable points, including coastal features like Pointe de l’Île That, Cap Turc, and Pointe de Manatte. The coastline is detailed with bays such as Baye de Poudre, Baye Sandy ou de Sable, and Baye de Manatte. Inland, specific locations like Jardins de Limonier, Jardins de la Compagnie and Savanes are marked.
Of particular interest are the depicted harbors and fortifications, such as Port Vallée, Port et Fort de James ou Jacques, and various batteries, including Batterie de Barriel de Canon. These indicate the island’s strategic importance as a fortified position for maritime navigation and defense during the 18th century.
Saint Helena was a key resupply point for ships traversing the South Atlantic during the age of sail, particularly for the East India Company and other European trading fleets. This map would have been invaluable for navigators needing precise information on anchorages, harbors, and potential hazards along the 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.
