A view of the Town and Castle of Macao
Detail
Date of first edition: 1744-1748
Date of this map: 1744-1748
Dimensions (not including margins): 20,5 x 31 cm
Condition: Excellent.
Condition rating: A+
From: Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca or a Complete Collection of Voyages & Travels, by Harris
In stock
Description
This view shows a detailed (battle) scene of Macao, from the water with the British ship Centurion in the foreground firing cannon; return fire is seen from the castle. It appeared in Harris’s Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca or a Complete Collection of Voyages & Travels.
Emanuel Bowen (1694?-1767) was a British engraver and print seller. He was most well-known for his atlases and county maps. Although he died in poverty, he was widely acknowledged for his expertise and was appointed as mapmaker to both George II of England and Louis XV of France. His business was carried on by his son, Thomas Bowen. He also trained many apprentices, two of whom became prominent mapmakers, Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffreys.
HMS Centurion
HMS Centurion was a 60-gun war ship of the Royal Navy, built at Portsmouth and launched on 6 January 1732.
While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Commodore George Anson led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to disrupt or capture Spain’s Pacific possessions (such as Manilla). This view shows the Centurion waiting in the harbor of Macao for storage and repair. Passing via Brazil and coming back over China, the Centurion thus also made a voyage around the world. She was broken up in 1769.