c1705 -"REGNORUM PORTUGALLIAE ET ALGARBIAE Tabula tam in suas Sacras quam Prosanas Ditiones Distincta..........Carolus Allard"

A fine engraved map of Portugal with fine original hand colour, the title within a highly decorative cartouche, the individual regions shown in different bold watercolors of pink, green, and yellow and, decorated with a compass rose pointing north with a fleur-de-lis. The cartouche shows both allegorical and Native American figures, with a ship in the background, emphasising Portugal's colonial endeavors. The cartouche also features four coats-of-arms and a dedication to Alexandre Nunes da Costa (1655-1712). Da Costa inherited the title of Agent of Portugal in the United Provinces upon his father's death in 1697, and he remained in that position until he died 1712. The Da Costas were one of the most important Sephardic Jewish families in Amsterdam, who had escaped Portugal during the Inquisition. The Sephardic community in Amsterdam played an extremely important role in Dutch colonialism and transatlantic trade, using family networks to facilitate importing goods, in particular, sugar.

Overall size approx 53cm x 63cm including the margins.

Condition is generally fine. There is an historical repaired tear in the top left through the cartouche with the top left corner margins added. Full original hand colour.

Carel (Carol) Allard (Allardt) (1648–1709) was an engraver and publisher based in Amsterdam. Part of a prominent family of Dutch mapmakers, publishers, and print sellers, his father was engraver and publisher Hugo Allard (1627–1684), who left his business to Carel upon his death. Carel published anything in demand, including maps, topography, ethnography, newsprints, and restrikes of old plates of artistic prints, many of which likely came from his father’s stock. In 1706, Carel gave his copperplates to his son Abraham Allard, before going bankrupt.