"Plan de Goa," by Jacqes Nicolas Bellin; Paris, 1750

Source: ebay, June 2001

"'Plan de Goa', issued Paris, 1750 by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-72), the important French cartographer who spent over 50 years at the French Hydrographic Service and was appointed the first "Ingenieur Hydrographe de la Marine", as well as later in life "Hydrographer to the King". A very detailed and pleasing mid-18th century depiction of this fabled India seaport city (on the Mandona river, W. coast, 250 miles from Bombay) which was for many years the capital of the whole Portuguese empire in the East, rivaling Lisbon in beauty and importance. Indeed, life in the fortified city was brilliant, wealth ostentatiously displayed by nearly all classes. Merchandise from all parts of the East were displayed in its bazaars, which included the regular sale of slaves. The architecture rivaled any Western city, with the chapel of the palace modeled after St. Peter's in Rome. This plan may well represent the city during the climax of  its prosperity (between c. 1575-1625), but certainly before the seat of government was removed from it in 1759, leading to its decline which by 1835 left the city all but deserted. (There was a Portuguese proverb which stated "He who has seen Goa need not see Lisbon"). A lengthy key within an elaborate cartouche at right corresponds to tiny numbers within the city (locatinig for instance the fish market, specific churches, the bourse, etc.). Virtually every building is rendered in delightful detail, numerous tall ships off the coast. There is even a man atop an elephant within "St. Marc" (#11 on the plan). The plan is really a birds-eye view. Bellin is best known for his high quality French sea charts and his finely engraved world maps for Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages". A scarce and wonderful map with expert and most attractive full hand color."

"Vue de Goa," a copper-plate engraving, by Bellin, from the same volume

Source: ebay, Nov. 2001

"VUE DE GOA. Small folding prints,original copper plate engraved, uncolored as issued, from a volume of Prevost's Histoire Générale des Voyages published in 1750."