French Cartography: Superb and Decorative

A French cartographer’s superb world map (Henri Chatelain, circa 1718).
Carte tres curieuse de la Mer du Sud, contenant des remarques nouvelles et tres utiles.. (Very curious map of the Southern Seas, containing new and very useful remarks..)

A very special map, this is one of the largest and most magnificent world maps ever produced. Created by Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743), a Huguenot pastor from Paris, assisted by his father and brother (both Zacharie Chatelain), for Chatelain’s "Atlas Historique, ou Nouvelle Introduction a l’Histoire, a la Chronologie et Moderne", published in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720. Four large copperplate engravings were joined to create this superb map. The definition of the engraving is beautifully enhanced by the fine hand-colour, to provide a vivid narration of exploration, customs, and beliefs at that time.

The engraved coastlines were based on earlier charts by the eminent French cartographer Guillaume Delisle (1675-1726). Australia is a little mis-shapen and incomplete, but overall the map is relatively geographically correct for the time - except that it still shows California as an island which had been disproved by the date of publication, but is a fascinating concept. The strong definition of the engraving is beautifully enhanced by the fine hand-colour, to provide a vivid narration of exploration, customs, and beliefs at that time. 

The map shows Niagara Falls, a sugar mill, beavers building, bear hunting, turtle fishing, cod fish drying, other fauna and flora, native customs, the attack of Cortés on Veracruz, missionaries, explorers, medallion portraits, important islands, ports and town plans, ships on the sea, the commercial routes of the period, and explorers’ routes, with the names and routes of significant expeditions. With its absorbing and unusual engravings of cosmography, geography, history, genealogy, heraldry, portraits, topography, and regional costumes, accompanied by descriptions of regional activities, this map is a brilliant visual representation of discovery and commerce - particularly in the New World - prior to being fully and accurately charted.

This map is available as currently framed in conservation materials, or unframed for shipment. Further images are available if required. http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/c-3-americascanada.aspx

The engraved map measures approximately 32 inches x 56 inches (82 x 143 cm). 

French Cartography: Creatively Decorative..

French Département maps

Fortunately, an over-active imagination is not the only creative talent for which French cartographers are known. They are also famous for their ornate decoration. Some of the most elaborately decorated maps ever made are Victor Levasseur’s maps of the French départements.

A French engineer and geographer, Levasseur flourished as a mapmaker between 1838 and 1854. His département maps are easily recognisable. For his grand Atlas National Illustre, published in Paris circa 1854, he surrounded each département map with a beautifully engraved narrative of the region, including illustrations of produce, commerce, coats of arms, local landmarks, peasants in costume, historically important people and scrolls of statistics.One of the most beautiful of all his maps is this map of the department of Gironde published in Paris circa 1852. Vew it on our website at
http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/p-36-gironde-aquitaine-france-department-beautiful-antique-map-levasseur-c1852.aspx