Alain Manesson Mallet; 1630-1706.
Precious
little is known about this author.
His claim to fame comes from his very successful "Description
de l'Univers", a pocket size thick geography book, replete
with encyclopedic details, historical data, scores of illustrations
(landscapes, decisive battle scenes, towns, forts, harbors,
.), and quite a few simple maps.
The book was published between 1683 and 1688. However, reprints
were made later with german text (1686 and 1719).
Perou.
This
diminutive map (3 ¾" X 5 ½") was published in the "Description
de l'Univers".
It depicts the vice-kingdom of Peru, as it was known at that
time: encompassing some of Ecuador and Brazil, all of Peru,
and parts of Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. This administration
entity of the colonial Americas, was wealthy and powerful,
second only to the vice-kingdom of New Spain (i.e. present
day Mexico, and all of central America safe Panama, with juridiction
over the Philippines).
Note the urban
centers of importance (towns and missions), including "Los
Reyes" (today's Lima), the prime mining town of Potosi with
its harbor in Arica.
French text on verso.
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