Description
BRAZIL – MINAS GERAIS / MINING / RAILWAY BOOM
João CROCKATT DE SÁ Pereira de Castro (1851 – 1911) and Eduardo A. G. THOMPSON.
Leipzig: Giesecke & Devrient for Laemmert & Cia. (Rio de Janeiro), [1893].
Colour lithograph, dissected into 24 sections and mounted upon original linen and folding into original highly decorative red cloth covers with gilt typography and fine coloured border designs (Excellent condition, attractive colours, clean and bright, just a couple tiny spots and some light toning along some section edges), 116 x 146.5 cm (45.5 x 57.5 inches).
Minas Gerais (meaning “General Mines”) is a vast inland Brazilian state renowned for its phenomenal 18th-century gold and diamond rush that revolutionized the Brazilian (and Portuguese) economy and made Brazil a leading global gem producer for over 150 years. While this bonanza was built upon the backs of slaves and exploited workers, the wealth it generated built many towns filled with magnificent architectural gems, most notably Ouro-Preto, its historical capital.
By the late 19th century, mining was still important in Minas Gerais; however, its economy had diversified into coffee, sugar and textiles, all supported by a great railway boom.
The present extraordinary large-scale map stands as a landmark achievement in late 19th-century Brazilian cartography, capturing the state of Minas Gerais and its surrounding federal territories during the foundational years of the First Brazilian Republic (República Velha). It was compiled under the direction of the distinguished civil engineer João Chrockatt de Sá, who was previously the Director General of Public Works of Minas Gerais (and the future Inspector General of the Brazilian State Railways). The map draws directly from official archives provided by the Federal Ministries of the Interior, Marine, and Agriculture, reflecting a monumental state project aimed at surveying and modernizing Brazil’s resource-rich interior. Rather than relying on outdated colonial templates, the map synthesizes the trailblazing field surveys, hydrographic charts, and infrastructure layouts compiled by prominent local engineers (named under the title). It serves as a vital historical record chronicling the intense territorial integration, infrastructure development, and industrial expansion defining South America at the close of the nineteenth century.
Technical Execution and Thematic Features
The map is highly regarded for its precision and comprehensive thematic execution, beautifully illustrating the expanding industrial networks of the Brazilian republic. A detailed symbol legend (Convenções) meticulously tracks the rapid spread of regional infrastructure, delineating operating railways and stations (Estrada de ferro em trafego e estações) from those still under planning or construction. The map marks an economic landscape in transition, identifying thriving textile mills (Fabrica de Tecidos), specialized sugarcane and coffee production complexes (Engenho central de canna ou café), mining works (Fabrica de ferro ou mina), and telegraph networks.
The vast geographical projection spans seamlessly across the entire heartland of Minas Gerais, extending across its political frontiers into the vital coastal and economic hubs of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and São Paulo. The internal regional topography is rendered with striking artistic detail, tracing the dramatic serras, extensive river valleys, and navigable river sectors (Trecho navegavel dos rios) that dictated early trade routes.
The lower left corner of the map features an inset plan of the legendary mining centre and the then state capital of Ouro-Preto, a town of splendid colonial edifices and character. In 1897, Ouro-Preto would be replaced as the state capital by the new planned city of Belo Horizonte.
To achieve the absolute highest calibre of technical detail, the master drawings were sent to Leipzig, Germany, to be lithographed by the world-renowned firm Giesecke & Devrient.
A Note on Rarity
The map is extremely rare. While we can locate a few holdings in Brazilian institutions, the only example we can otherwise find is held by Oxford University Libraries. Moreover, we are aware of only a single other example of the map as appearing on the market during the last 25 years.
References: Oxford University Libraries: H5:22 (2); Arquivo Publico Mineiro (Belo Horizonte): MAP 5/2 – ENV.2