Rare Old Map of the Lesser Antilles by Bellin, 1764: Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Virgin Islands
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Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored from the original 1764 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Read the story behind this map
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Step into the vibrant maritime world of the 18th century with “Les Petites Antilles ou Les Isles du Vent,” a masterwork by...
Continue readingStep into the vibrant maritime world of the 18th century with “Les Petites Antilles ou Les Isles du Vent,” a masterwork by the renowned French cartographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin, dated 1764. This exceptional map elegantly charts the arc of the Lesser Antilles, or Windward Islands, capturing the critical corridor between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Bellin’s meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the clarity with which he delineates each island, from the storied shores of Barbados and Grenada in the south to the intricate cluster of the Virgin Islands and Saint Barthélemy in the north. The original French title, prominently displayed, evokes the era’s spirit of exploration and the strategic importance of these islands to European empires.
Jacques Nicolas Bellin, Hydrographer to the King of France and a leading figure at the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine, was celebrated for his precision and attention to navigational detail. His maps, including this one, were indispensable tools for mariners, traders, and colonial administrators navigating the often treacherous Caribbean waters. Bellin’s “Petit Atlas Maritime,” from which this map originates, was a cornerstone of 18th-century cartography, combining scientific rigor with an artist’s sense of proportion and clarity. This map stands as a testament to Bellin’s legacy, reflecting both the geopolitical ambitions and the navigational challenges of his time.
The map’s scope is remarkable, encompassing a constellation of islands that today form the heart of the Caribbean. Each island is crisply outlined and labeled, including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Antigua, and more. These islands were, and remain, sites of immense cultural and historical significance—crossroads of commerce, conflict, and migration. The careful rendering of coastlines and maritime passages highlights the islands’ roles as both havens and hazards for ships, underscoring their importance in the era’s global trade networks.
Within the map’s boundaries, a tapestry of human settlement emerges. Bellin’s chart identifies key colonial towns and ports that would become the vibrant capitals and economic centers of the modern Caribbean. Notable among these are Bridgetown in Barbados, Saint-Pierre and Fort Royal (now Fort-de-France) in Martinique, Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, and St. John’s in Antigua. These towns, marked on the map, were vital nodes in the web of colonial administration, commerce, and culture, their fortunes rising and falling with the tides of empire and trade.
Beyond its immediate utility, “Les Petites Antilles ou Les Isles du Vent” offers a window into the shifting geopolitical landscape of the 18th century. The map’s clarity and detail reflect the intense competition among European powers for control of these islands, prized for their strategic harbors and fertile lands. Today, Bellin’s work is not only a cartographic treasure but also a tangible link to the age of exploration, inviting us to trace the journeys of ships, merchants, and settlers across the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. For the discerning collector, this map represents both a historical document and a work of enduring beauty.
Cities and towns on this map
- Barbados
- Bridgetown
- Martinique (France)
- Saint-Pierre
- Fort Royal (modern-day Fort-de-France)
- Guadeloupe (France)
- Basse-Terre
- Pointe-à-Pitre
- Antigua and Barbuda
- St. John's
- Grenada
- St. George's
- Saint Lucia
- Castries
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Kingstown
- Dominica
- Roseau
- Saint Barthélemy (France)
- Gustavia
- Virgin Islands (U.S. and British)
- Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Road Town (Tortola, British Virgin Islands)
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Atlantic Ocean ("Mer du Nord")
- Caribbean Sea ("Mer des Antilles")
- Islands clearly labeled, including:
- Barbados
- Grenada
- Saint Vincent
- Saint Lucia
- Martinique
- Dominica
- Guadeloupe
- Antigua
- Saint Barthélemy
- Virgin Islands ("Isles Vierges")
- Clearly delineated coastlines and island outlines
Historical and design context
- Created by Jacques Nicolas Bellin, a prominent 18th-century French cartographer known for his detailed maritime maps
- Dated 1764, during a period of intense European colonial competition in the Caribbean
- Originally published in Bellin's "Petit Atlas Maritime," a foundational work in maritime cartography
- Focuses on both political and physical geography, aiding navigation and colonial administration
- Reflects the strategic importance of the Lesser Antilles in global trade and European imperial ambitions
- Exemplifies Bellin’s meticulous and clear cartographic style, prioritizing accuracy and navigational utility
Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.
This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Step into the vibrant maritime world of the 18th century with “Les Petites Antilles ou Les Isles du Vent,” a masterwork by the renowned French cartographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin, dated 1764. This exceptional map elegantly charts the arc of the Lesser Antilles, or Windward Islands, capturing the critical corridor between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Bellin’s meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the clarity with which he delineates each island, from the storied shores of Barbados and Grenada in the south to the intricate cluster of the Virgin Islands and Saint Barthélemy in the north. The original French title, prominently displayed, evokes the era’s spirit of exploration and the strategic importance of these islands to European empires.
Jacques Nicolas Bellin, Hydrographer to the King of France and a leading figure at the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine, was celebrated for his precision and attention to navigational detail. His maps, including this one, were indispensable tools for mariners, traders, and colonial administrators navigating the often treacherous Caribbean waters. Bellin’s “Petit Atlas Maritime,” from which this map originates, was a cornerstone of 18th-century cartography, combining scientific rigor with an artist’s sense of proportion and clarity. This map stands as a testament to Bellin’s legacy, reflecting both the geopolitical ambitions and the navigational challenges of his time.
The map’s scope is remarkable, encompassing a constellation of islands that today form the heart of the Caribbean. Each island is crisply outlined and labeled, including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Antigua, and more. These islands were, and remain, sites of immense cultural and historical significance—crossroads of commerce, conflict, and migration. The careful rendering of coastlines and maritime passages highlights the islands’ roles as both havens and hazards for ships, underscoring their importance in the era’s global trade networks.
Within the map’s boundaries, a tapestry of human settlement emerges. Bellin’s chart identifies key colonial towns and ports that would become the vibrant capitals and economic centers of the modern Caribbean. Notable among these are Bridgetown in Barbados, Saint-Pierre and Fort Royal (now Fort-de-France) in Martinique, Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, and St. John’s in Antigua. These towns, marked on the map, were vital nodes in the web of colonial administration, commerce, and culture, their fortunes rising and falling with the tides of empire and trade.
Beyond its immediate utility, “Les Petites Antilles ou Les Isles du Vent” offers a window into the shifting geopolitical landscape of the 18th century. The map’s clarity and detail reflect the intense competition among European powers for control of these islands, prized for their strategic harbors and fertile lands. Today, Bellin’s work is not only a cartographic treasure but also a tangible link to the age of exploration, inviting us to trace the journeys of ships, merchants, and settlers across the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. For the discerning collector, this map represents both a historical document and a work of enduring beauty.
Cities and towns on this map
- Barbados
- Bridgetown
- Martinique (France)
- Saint-Pierre
- Fort Royal (modern-day Fort-de-France)
- Guadeloupe (France)
- Basse-Terre
- Pointe-à-Pitre
- Antigua and Barbuda
- St. John's
- Grenada
- St. George's
- Saint Lucia
- Castries
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Kingstown
- Dominica
- Roseau
- Saint Barthélemy (France)
- Gustavia
- Virgin Islands (U.S. and British)
- Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Road Town (Tortola, British Virgin Islands)
Notable Features & Landmarks
- Atlantic Ocean ("Mer du Nord")
- Caribbean Sea ("Mer des Antilles")
- Islands clearly labeled, including:
- Barbados
- Grenada
- Saint Vincent
- Saint Lucia
- Martinique
- Dominica
- Guadeloupe
- Antigua
- Saint Barthélemy
- Virgin Islands ("Isles Vierges")
- Clearly delineated coastlines and island outlines
Historical and design context
- Created by Jacques Nicolas Bellin, a prominent 18th-century French cartographer known for his detailed maritime maps
- Dated 1764, during a period of intense European colonial competition in the Caribbean
- Originally published in Bellin's "Petit Atlas Maritime," a foundational work in maritime cartography
- Focuses on both political and physical geography, aiding navigation and colonial administration
- Reflects the strategic importance of the Lesser Antilles in global trade and European imperial ambitions
- Exemplifies Bellin’s meticulous and clear cartographic style, prioritizing accuracy and navigational utility
Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.
This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.
I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.
I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.
Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.
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