Map of Brazil divided into fourteen hereditary captaincies from 1657 onwards
“Le Bresil, dont la Coste est Possedee par les Portugais, et Divisee en Quatorze Capitaineries…”, Sanson, Nicolas
Map of Brazil divided into fourteen hereditary captaincies, 1657 – This is a reduced version of Sanson’s important map showing the Portuguese possessions in Brazil.
The coastal regions were divided by the Portuguese Crown into fourteen captaincies, or hereditary ports.
The holders of these grants, called donatários, were responsible for their defence and development. A series of rivers appear in the interior.
The mythical Lago de los Xarayes appears on the left, and the unknown interior is conveniently covered by the garlanded title cartouche.
Sanson’s small maps of his America in various maps…, first published in 1656 and engraved by A. Peyrounin, were copied several times by various map publishers.
Johann David Zunners made copies of Sanson’s maps for his German translation of Die Gantze Erd-Kugel in 1679. Johannes Ribbius and Simon de Vries published copies in 1682 and 1683, with new maps engraved by Antoine d’Winter.
The plates were later sold to François Halma, who used them in 1699 and again in 1705, with the titles again engraved in Dutch.
The titles on the d’Winter plates were again engraved in French and then used by Nicholas Chemereau in 1715 and by Henri du Sauzet in 1738. “Le Bresil, dont la Coste est Possedee par les Portugais, et Divisee en Quatorze Capitaineries…”, Sanson, Nicolas
For reference see Pastoureau, SANSON II A [13].
Map of Brazil divided into fourteen hereditary captainships from 1657 onwards
