Antique Map of the Tonkin River ‘Vietnam’ by J.N. Bellin, 1764

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Title: 1750 Bellin Map of the Red River and Hanoi, Vietnam Description: This finely engraved eighteenth-century French map, titled Carte du Cours de la Riviere de Tunquin, was created by the renowned cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin and published in 1750. It depicts the course of the Red River, historically referred to as the Tonkin River, from Hanoi, labeled as Cacho, Ville Capitale du Tunquin, to the Gulf of Tonkin, labeled as Baye de Tunquin. Bellin’s work was based on navigational surveys by an English explorer, as stated in the title, reflecting the growing European interest in Southeast Asia during the early colonial period. The Red River Delta was a crucial region for trade and agriculture, forming the backbone of Vietnam’s economic and cultural history. The river originates in China and flows through northern Vietnam, passing through Hanoi before emptying into the Gulf of Tonkin. This map captures the strategic importance of the river, as it served as a major trade route for goods and a point of interest for European navigators, merchants, and missionaries seeking access to Indochina. The map includes numerous geographical details. Hanoi is prominently labeled as the capital of Tonkin, a historical term used by Europeans to describe northern Vietnam. The surrounding settlements, islands, and tributaries are carefully marked, illustrating the intricate network of waterways that characterized the region. Notable features include Île de la Potterie, referring to a location known for ceramic production, and various sandbanks and fortified locations along the river. A decorative compass rose is placed in the upper left corner, reinforcing the map’s navigational purpose. The scale of measurement is provided in French leagues, labeled as Grandes Lieues...

Jacques Bellin's copper-plate map entitled "Partie de la Coste de Guinee Dupuis la Riviere de Sierra Leona Jusquau Cap das Palmas", depicting the coast of Guinea and Sierra Leone in ...

Great map of The Eastern and Western Hemispheres On 2 sheets Copper-plate engraving Drawn and engraved by Thomas Clerk, Edinburgh. Published by Mackenzie And Dent, 1817 ...

Jacques Bellin's copper-plate map of the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts entitled "Carte De De l'Isle St. Christophe Pour servir á l'Histoire Genle. des V...

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