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Fine example of the large Senex map of Africa, dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton. " President of the Royal Society and Master of His Majesty's Mint."

This large two sheet map provides a highly detailed look at the coast and interior of Africa, at a time when it was still very much the Dark Continent. Includes a host of annotations, including apocryphal notes regarding local peoples, animals, indigenous gems, mines, etc.

According to E.H. Lane-Pool, The Discovery of Africa . . . As Reflected in the Maps in the Collection of the Rhodes-LIvingstone Musuem (1950), entries 34 and 35,

The dedication suggests that [Newton] was holding his post under Queen Anne, at the time the map was produced... The topography is based on the later de L'Isle maps . . . the Portuguese discoveries inserted . . . much curious information is derived from the commentaries appended to the placenames. Of the Hensquas, a people inhabiting the country of Griquas, it is said, "This nations makes use of Lyons in fighting?' At the source of the Buffalo River is the note "This river is said to have no end." The Zimbas in what now is Nyasaland are "Anthropophagi or men-eaters who pay divine worship to their King", and Mount Chiri (near the Shire River) is aptly described as "very fertrile and populous. " John Cassangi becomes established at the headwaters of the Cuneni River about this period. His town was a famous market for traders in transit from the interior and was the limit of Portuguese Exploration from the West Coast. Seventy years later Cassangi was an embarrassment to the Portuguese on account of the embargo he placed upon trade between Mwatayamvu and the West Coast.

While similar in appearance to the Senex & Price map of the same title, this map has an entirely different title cartouche and was engraved from different copper plates. Newton served as President of the Royal Society from 1703 to 1727 and Master of the Mint from 1700 to 1727.