Africa Elaboratissima

Fine example of Schenk’s decorative map of Africa.

This map of Africa, issued by Pieter Schenk in his Atlas Contractus, shows many of the common cartographic myths about the continent prevalent through the 19th century. Two St. Helena islands can be found in the Atlantic Ocean. The Niger River is pictured as an extension of the Senegal, connected to the dumbbell pattern of Lacus Guarde and Borno Lacus (the latter being a close geographic approximation to Lake Tchad). Additional large bodies of water are seen in the southern portion of the continent, corresponding to the Ptolemaic tradition of the source of the Nile.

The most accurate information can be found on the coasts, with the names of various ports and navigable rivers tightly grouped densely in the northwest; along the Ivory, Gold, and Grain Coasts. A decorative cartouche immediately catches the eye in the lower left, prominently showing an armored elephant, obelisks, and heavily adorned natives. Schenk, along with his brother-in-law Gerard Valk, purchased the plates of other Dutch mapmakers like Johannes Janssonius to expedite the creation of their composite atlases. This appears to be an original work, though the interior detail is heavily influenced by predecessors.