Les Isles Antilles et le Golfe du Mexique

Lovely example of Bonne’s map of Florida, the Caribbean and Central America.

As successor to Jacques-Nicholas Bellin as the Royal Hydrographer of France, Rigobert Bonne continued his predecessor’s trend of providing accurate and detailed information without elaborate adornments. His focus on precision and the practical application of cartography led Bonne to several partnerships outside the auspices of the Depot de la Marine, including creation of the maps for Desmarest’s Atlas Encyclopedique (1788) and Raynal’s Atlas de Toutes les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre (1780).

This map of the Gulf of Mexico and Central America was taken from the latter publication, and includes detailed information regarding place names, trade winds, and some topography. A large scale inset map of Bermuda provides the (presumably French) audience with a comprehensive look at the main military base of the despised Royal Navy in the region.