123 Antoine-François Prévost (1697–1763) – African Lion and Camel of Cape Verde – Engraving (Circa 1747)

This zoological illustration depicts a composite scene of two large animals known to inhabit West Africa. The foreground is dominated by a majestic African Lion, posed aggressively, while a Camel (or Dromedary) stands calmly behind it in a tropical landscape featuring palm trees. The image illustrates the diverse and powerful fauna encountered by European explorers in the region, particularly around the Cape Verde area. This plate was published as a natural history supplement in the massive 18th-century French compendium, the Histoire Générale des Voyages, edited by Abbé Prévost.
Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, known as the Abbé Prévost, was a prominent French author, novelist, and historian of the 18th century, famous for his novel Manon Lescaut. He spent years compiling and editing the encyclopedic Histoire Générale des Voyages (General History of Voyages). This monumental work, which synthesized travel accounts from around the world, was a major publishing success of the Enlightenment, and Prévost's editorial effort was instrumental in shaping European perceptions of distant cultures and environments.
Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost
Dimensions: Approximately 26 × 19 cm
Medium: Engraving
Date: Circa 1747
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
Estimate | 250 - 350 SEK |
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Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |

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