Bonne, Rigobert
1778

Antique miniature chart of Channel Islands Jersey Guernsey and Alderney

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Carte particuliere des isles Jersey Grenesey et Aurigny par M. Bonne

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Fine antique miniature nautical chart of the Channel Islands (Îles de la Manche) in the English Channel off the French coast of Normandy. Coverage on this attractive miniature sea chart includes the islands of Jersey, Guernsey (Grenesey) , Alderney (Aurigni), Sark (Cers), Herm (Herms), Jethou (Gethou) and Brecqhou.

Despite its small size this scarce copper-plate engraving contains much of what is found on larger charts- anchorages are clearly marked; depth soundings are numerous; hazards and sand banks are clearly identified. In addition Bonne provides a great amount of detail about the interior topography and geography of the Channel Islands.

From Rigobert Bonne's miniature nautical atlas "Atlas maritime ou Cartes réduites de toutes les Côtes de France avec des cartes particulières des isles voisines les plus considérables, suivies des plans des principales villes maritimes de ce royaume." One of 12 charts published in the Atlas Maritime which are considered to among the very few miniature nautical charts published during the golden age of miniature maps . Published by Lattre from Paris. With the royal privilege. No. 10.

Rigobert Bonne (1727-1794) was the successor to Jacques Nicolas Bellin as Royal Cartographer to France in the office of the Hydrographer at the Depôt de la Marine. Bonne first came to prominence when he published a number of charts in the Atlas Maritime in 1762. He is better known for later publications, including the Atlas Encyclopedique, which he collaborated on with Nicholas Desmarest, as well as the maps he produced for Raynal's Atlas de Toutes Les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre, which was published in 1780.