This map titled "La Guadeloupe et ses Dépendances" (Guadeloupe and its Dependencies) is from a Petit Atlas National series, focusing on the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and surrounding smaller islands. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Visual and Geographic Description: - The map shows the island of Guadeloupe, which is divided into two main landmasses, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, separated by a narrow water channel. The island's rugged terrain, including its mountainous regions, is clearly illustrated. - Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and other smaller islands are also depicted as part of Guadeloupe’s dependencies. - Administrative divisions are labeled, with town names and geographical features such as rivers and mountains noted. The surrounding ocean is labeled as the "Mer des Antilles" (Caribbean Sea). - There is a small inset map at the bottom right labeled "Plan du Port de la Pointe-à-Pitre," showing a detailed layout of the harbor and city of Pointe-à-Pitre, one of Guadeloupe’s key port cities and economic centers.
Artistic and Cartographic Features: - The map is hand-colored, with different regions outlined in soft shades, such as yellow for Guadeloupe and green for Marie-Galante. - It is an example of early 19th-century French cartography, likely intended for educational or governmental use given its precise, clear delineation of administrative and geographical features. - The title cartouche at the top is simple and elegant, with the text "Statistique" providing a description of the island's geography, economy, and population.
Historical Context: - Guadeloupe has been a French colony since the 17th century and remains a French overseas department. During the 19th century, maps like this would have been important for understanding the geography and administration of France's Caribbean territories. - Pointe-à-Pitre, highlighted in the inset map, was a crucial center for trade and the sugar economy that defined much of Guadeloupe’s colonial history.
This map would have been part of a series of French national atlases, showcasing the extent and detail of France's overseas territories during the 19th century.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.