This late-18th-century chart, titled The Dutch Colony of the Cape of Good Hope by L.S. De La Rochette (1795), presents a richly layered portrait of the Cape as it evolved from a refreshment station into a structured, multicultural colony. Issued by William Faden—London’s preeminent Geographer to the King—it synthesizes the newest coastal and inland intelligence of its day. From “Klipping Eyland” down to “Cape Falso,” the map fuses maritime necessities with land-based realities: the safe approach to anchorages, the dominance of mountains over settlement, and the emerging lattice of farms and towns. It is both a navigational instrument and a social document, capturing how geography directed commerce, governance, and daily life along one of the world’s pivotal sea routes.

Topography is the map’s visual grammar. The relief is sculpted through fine hachuring and tonal shading, elevating the dramatic amphitheater of Table Mountain—explicitly noted at roughly 3,400 feet—and its sentinels, Lion’s Head and Lion’s Rump. Rugged promontories such as Duivelsberg and the coastal ridge of Muyzenberg, near 1,300 feet, guide the eye—and historically, the traveler—along corridors that channeled movement across the peninsula. Beyond the coast, the Drakenstein and Kogelberg ranges impose natural limits on expansion, while features like Clogstone Kloof and the Warm Bokkeveld hint at viable passes and interior agricultural prospects. This is landscape as strategist, rendered with the elegant restraint for which De La Rochette and Faden were renowned.

Maritime intelligence anchors the composition. Tafel (Table) Bay, Saldanha Bay, and St. Helena’s Bay are drawn with commercial precision, while False Bay’s contours and the dramatic turn at the Cape of Good Hope toward Cape Falso reveal the stakes of pilotage in treacherous waters. Carefully plotted soundings, bearings, and coastal silhouettes—paired with a clear compass orientation—translate shoreline complexity into a seaman’s checklist: where to anchor, where to take shelter, and where reefs and shoals threaten hull and cargo. The interplay of bays, headlands, and currents conveys why this coast became an indispensable hinge of global trade, shaping routes, provisioning patterns, and the tempo of imperial logistics.

Cultural and economic geographies are mapped with equal care. The colony’s agricultural footprint is legible in named farms and settlements—Constantia among the vineyards, and Stellenbosch as a keystone inland town—signaling supply chains that linked hinterland produce to maritime demand. Khoisan presence appears in the depiction of “Hottentots Kraals,” a period term marking indigenous village sites, while the labeling of areas such as “Klein Caffers” reflects historical nomenclature now understood as outdated and offensive. Together with the delineated frontier toward the Drakenstein Mountains, these signs reveal a colony negotiating land, labor, and authority—its mosaic of communities, routes, and resource bases etched directly into the terrain.

Artistry and authorship amplify its authority. The decorative cartouche, populated with Cape fauna, flora, and scenes of indigenous life, frames the map as both a scientific record and a statement of place. Faden’s imprint—prized for clarity and currency—meets De La Rochette’s meticulous terrain modeling to produce a second edition attentive to newly gathered observations. The result is an 18th-century infographic in the truest sense: data-dense yet beautifully resolved, where relief shading, coastal metrics, settlement symbols, and cultural vignettes cohere into a single, legible narrative. For the historian, navigator, or connoisseur, it is a masterclass in how information, art, and empire converged at the far edge of Africa.

Notable places on this map

• Cape Town: The primary settlement and port in the colony.
• Saldanha Bay: A significant harbor noted for its strategic position.
• St. Helena's Bay: Another bay location on the western coastline.
• Tafel Bay: A notable bay associated with its connection to the coastal waters.
• Klein Caffers: An area marked on the map, indicative of local settlements.
• Drakenstein Mountains: The geographical boundary of the Dutch colony.
• Clogstone Kloof: A valley or pass contributing to regional topography.
• Warm Bokkeveld: An area referenced in the map, indicating agricultural land use.
• Kogelberg Mountains: A significant mountain range within the vicinity of False Bay.
• Cape Falso: Marked as a prominent geographical feature to the south.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Table Mountain (Point 'a'): Noted as a significant landmark, towering about 3,400 feet high.
• Lion's Head (Point 'b'): Recognized both for its distinctive shape and navigational value.
• Lion's Rump (Point 'c'): Another peak contributing to the local topography.
• Duivelsberg (Devil's Hill) (Point 'd'): A rugged feature symbolizing the challenging terrain for settlers.
• Muyzenberg (Point 'e'): A notable mountain feature around 1,300 feet high near the coast.
• Constantia: One of the significant farms identified on the map.
• Stellenbosch: Another important settlement highlighted in the mapped areas.
• Khoisan Villages: Temporary settlements known as "Hottentots Kraals" depicted on the map.
• False Bay: A coastal feature crucial for maritime activities in the region.
• Cape of Good Hope: A pivotal geographical landmark known for its maritime significance.
• Topographical Representation: The map provides a comprehensive view, with an emphasis on mountains, valleys, and significant elevation changes through detailed shading and hachuring.
• Cultural Representation: The inclusion of indigenous huts reflects historical interactions and conflicts between settlers and the native populations.
• Cartographic Elements: The map features a decorative cartouche illustrating local wildlife, which reveals insights about the biodiversity of the area at the time.
• Nautical Information: Significant soundings and navigational aids are likely included, facilitating maritime navigation through accurate depth measurements and compass rose indications.
• Coastal Features: The detailed representation of bays and harbors indicates the importance of coastal trade routes and maritime economy.
• Land Use: The marked farms and settlements show agricultural practices and the spread of European settlement in the region.
• Geographical Boundaries: The delineation of the Dutch colony amidst natural obstacles such as mountains illustrates the challenges faced in expansion and governance.
• Cultural Demographics: The diverse populations of the area are acknowledged, reflecting the various cultural influences present in the colony.
• Historical Significance: The map serves as a pivotal reference for understanding colonial expansion and settlement patterns during a critical era in South African history.
• Artistic Detailing: The ornate detailing in the border and cartouche demonstrate the artistic skill of the mapmaker, further emphasizing its role as both a functional and aesthetic piece of cartography.

Historical and design context

• Title of the Map: The Dutch Colony of the Cape of Good Hope by L.S. De La Rochette MDCC XCV
• Date of Creation: 1795
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by William Faden, who was a prominent English cartographer known for his high-quality maps and atlases during the 18th century.
• Historical Context: The map is a second edition, building on the knowledge gained from earlier explorations, reflecting ongoing geographical and topographical understanding of the region in the late 18th century.
• Geographical Scope: The map covers the Cape of Good Hope region, specifically detailing the Dutch Colony of the Cape, stretching from "Klipping Eyland" to "Cape Falso."
• Cultural Representation: The cartouche includes elements indicative of local fauna and indigenous life, portraying a blend of European colonization and the indigenous presence, including huts of the Khoisan people.
• Key Themes: Major topographical features including mountains and prominent landmarks are emphasized, contributing to maritime navigation and settlement patterns.
• Countries and Regions Shown: Primarily showcases areas in present-day South Africa, highlighting significant places in the Cape Town region.
• Design and Style: The map is characterized by detailed etching and topographical relief, representing elevation through shading and hachuring, along with a decorative cartouche that showcases local flora and fauna.
• Historical Significance: The map serves as an important historical artifact, illustrating the transition of the Cape from a provisioning station to a more established multicultural settlement.

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 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 16in (40cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) 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.