Fezzae et Marocchi Regna Africae Celeberrima

Location

Country: Morocco
City: Rabat
Place: British Embassy

‘Fezzae et Marocchi Regna Africae Celeberrima’ is taken from the publication ‘Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of AEgypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid…’ (1670), written by John Ogilby (1600-1676). Publisher and geographer Ogilby produced a series of atlases covering the entire world, the first of which was ‘Africa’. This was followed by ‘Atlas Japannensis’ (1670), ‘America’ (1671), ‘Atlas Chinensis’ (1671), and ‘Asia’ (1673). Ogilby's input was to compile existing maps and translations of written accounts of the regions by other authors, a common practice at that time. His work both helped to establish, and reflected, a growing public interest in distant places and foreign peoples.

Attributing 17th-century maps to the cartographer who produced them is problematic as it was common for maps to be redrawn several times, often with minor alterations, for subsequent publications. ‘Africae Celeberrima’ is a modified version of a map by the same name, drawn by Dutch cartographer, atlas maker and publisher Willem Janszoon~Blaeu and published in 1640. Blaeu credited Abraham Ortelius' earlier map as the main source of the data.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu was born in the Netherlands; the son of a fishmonger. Between 1594 and 1596 he studied in Denmark as an instrument and globe maker under Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601). He later returned to the Netherlands to produce country maps, atlases and globes using his own printing works. In 1633 he was appointed map-maker to the Dutch East India Company. His maps appeared in Atlas Novus (published 1635). He also edited and published works by astronomers Willebrord Snell, Adriaan Metius, theologian Gerhard Johann Vossius and the historian and poet Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft. He died in Amsterdam. Blaeu’s sons, Johannes and Cornelis, continued their father's mapmaking and publishing business after his death.

Places

Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic, Africa, Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain

Subjects

map (as Subject), cartouche, camel, cow, sea, man, spear, putto, ship

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

John Ogilby (1600 - 1676)
Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Title

Fezzae et Marocchi Regna Africae Celeberrima

Date

published 1670

Medium

Engraving

Dimensions

height: 28.00 cm, width: 36.00 cm

Acquisition

Origin uncertain

GAC number

15249