Map of the East Indies: An Original 18th Century Hand-colored Map by E. Bowen
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Map of the East Indies Exhibiting the Course of the European Trade both on the Continent and Islands" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1744 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the East Indies, as it was known in the mid 18th century. This colorful, attractive, historical and interesting 1744 map presents the East Indies in great detail, as it was known in the mid 18th century. including India, Ceylon, The Maldive Islands, modern day Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Singapore, Borneo, The Philippine Islands, Timor and a portion of New Guinea. A portion of Persia and Tibet is depicted in the northwest, China in the north and Australia (New Holland) in the southwest, as it was understood in the middle part of the 18th century, before the landmark explorations of Captain’s Cook, Vancouver, Wilkes and others. The map also features the monthly direction of the trade winds in the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1744
Dimensions: Height: 15.75 in (40.01 cm) Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 4981
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Map of the East Indies Exhibiting the Course of the European Trade both on the Continent and Islands" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1744 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the East Indies, as it was known in the mid 18th century. This colorful, attractive, historical and interesting 1744 map presents the East Indies in great detail, as it was known in the mid 18th century. including India, Ceylon, The Maldive Islands, modern day Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Singapore, Borneo, The Philippine Islands, Timor and a portion of New Guinea. A portion of Persia and Tibet is depicted in the northwest, China in the north and Australia (New Holland) in the southwest, as it was understood in the middle part of the 18th century, before the landmark explorations of Captain’s Cook, Vancouver, Wilkes and others. The map also features the monthly direction of the trade winds in the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1744
Dimensions: Height: 15.75 in (40.01 cm) Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 4981
This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Map of the East Indies Exhibiting the Course of the European Trade both on the Continent and Islands" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1744 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the East Indies, as it was known in the mid 18th century. This colorful, attractive, historical and interesting 1744 map presents the East Indies in great detail, as it was known in the mid 18th century. including India, Ceylon, The Maldive Islands, modern day Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Singapore, Borneo, The Philippine Islands, Timor and a portion of New Guinea. A portion of Persia and Tibet is depicted in the northwest, China in the north and Australia (New Holland) in the southwest, as it was understood in the middle part of the 18th century, before the landmark explorations of Captain’s Cook, Vancouver, Wilkes and others. The map also features the monthly direction of the trade winds in the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea.
Creator: Emanuel Bowen (1694 - 1767, British)
Creation Year: 1744
Dimensions: Height: 15.75 in (40.01 cm) Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Medium: Engraving
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 4981
The map is embellished by a decorative title cartouche in the upper right, which includes a landscape and two individuals under umbrellas in their ethnic costumes. Other people are seen in the distance.
This striking and beautifully hand-colored original 18th century map is printed on laid chain-linked paper with wide margins and Fleur-de-Lys watermark. The sheet measures 15.75" high and 20" wide. There is a vertical center fold, as issued. There is a tiny spot in the upper margin on the left, but the map is otherwise in very good condition.
Emanuel Bowen (1694-1767) was a prominent British engraver and cartographer. He was born in Wales and worked in London as a mapmaker and engraver for much of his career. Bowen was honored as a fellow of the Royal Society and as the Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of England and Louis XV of France. Based in London, Bowen was highly regarded for producing some of the largest, most detailed, most accurate and most attractive maps of his era. He is known to have worked with some of the most prominent cartographic names of the period including Herman Moll, John Owen, and Thomas Kitchin. Bowen was known for his skill in combining information from various sources to create comprehensive and useful maps. Bowen produced a wide range of maps, including maps of the British Isles, Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He also created maps for several important atlases, including the "Complete Atlas" (1752) and "A Complete System of Geography" (1747). Despite his renown and success, Bowen, like many cartographers, died in poverty. Upon Emanuel Bowen's death, his cartographic work was taken over by his son, Thomas Bowen who also died in poverty. Bowen's legacy as one of the most influential cartographers of the 18th century lives on through his many important maps and atlases.
