CASSINI DE THURY, César François (1677-1756). Les Cartes de la France. Paris: 1744-1799(?).
CASSINI DE THURY, César François (1677-1756). Les Cartes de la France. Paris: 1744-1799(?).
Superbly hand-coloured copy of the first complete map of France surveyed by triangulation. 'The base of the triangulation was the verified meridian of Paris; along it, at intervals of 60,000 toises (rather more than 1° of latitude), perpendiculars were carried to east and west, from which the positions of towns and other landmarks were fixed. The project faced immense difficulties which were ultimately overcome. In 1756 the French Government withdrew its financial support, but Cassini formed a company which sought to recover its expenses from the sale of the maps. Later several provinces provided financial support. Cassini lived long enough to see the work practically completed before he died of smallpox on September 4, 1784. Publication was undertaken by his son, Jacques Dominique. The atlas appeared in 182 sheets in October 1789 ... It soon won universal acclaim and stands as model for all later map-making by triangulation' (NMM). The present lot includes the large folding map by Dupain-Triel, Carte de la généralité de Paris divisée en vingt deux elections (Paris, 1778), and each volume contains a general index map: Tableau de la carte générale de la France pour servir à l’assemblage des 24 feuilles de la carte réduite, (Paris, L. Capitaine). Brunet I, 1602/1603, noting that, although 182 sheets are called for, in effect the atlas is composed of 180 maps because number 182 is joined with 155, and 160 with 131; NMM III(1), 222 and 223; Tooley's Dictionary I, 241 and 243.
3 volumes, large folio (598 x 485mm), 180 engraved maps on 161 sheets, 22 joined on 2 or more sheets and folding, together with the large folding map by Dupain-Triel, Carte de la généralité de Paris divisée en vingt deux elections (Paris, 1778) in vol. I, and with 3 general maps, all hand-coloured by a contemporary hand, some with additional manuscript toponyms (all maps remargined, some trimmed close into engraved numbers, many with additional manuscript scales, occasional variable browning). 19th-century leather-backed boards (rebacked preserving original gilt spines, new green-stained vellum tips).
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CASSINI DE THURY, César François (1677-1756). Les Cartes de la France. Paris: 1744-1799(?).
Superbly hand-coloured copy of the first complete map of France surveyed by triangulation. 'The base of the triangulation was the verified meridian of Paris; along it, at intervals of 60,000 toises (rather more than 1° of latitude), perpendiculars were carried to east and west, from which the positions of towns and other landmarks were fixed. The project faced immense difficulties which were ultimately overcome. In 1756 the French Government withdrew its financial support, but Cassini formed a company which sought to recover its expenses from the sale of the maps. Later several provinces provided financial support. Cassini lived long enough to see the work practically completed before he died of smallpox on September 4, 1784. Publication was undertaken by his son, Jacques Dominique. The atlas appeared in 182 sheets in October 1789 ... It soon won universal acclaim and stands as model for all later map-making by triangulation' (NMM). The present lot includes the large folding map by Dupain-Triel, Carte de la généralité de Paris divisée en vingt deux elections (Paris, 1778), and each volume contains a general index map: Tableau de la carte générale de la France pour servir à l’assemblage des 24 feuilles de la carte réduite, (Paris, L. Capitaine). Brunet I, 1602/1603, noting that, although 182 sheets are called for, in effect the atlas is composed of 180 maps because number 182 is joined with 155, and 160 with 131; NMM III(1), 222 and 223; Tooley's Dictionary I, 241 and 243.
3 volumes, large folio (598 x 485mm), 180 engraved maps on 161 sheets, 22 joined on 2 or more sheets and folding, together with the large folding map by Dupain-Triel, Carte de la généralité de Paris divisée en vingt deux elections (Paris, 1778) in vol. I, and with 3 general maps, all hand-coloured by a contemporary hand, some with additional manuscript toponyms (all maps remargined, some trimmed close into engraved numbers, many with additional manuscript scales, occasional variable browning). 19th-century leather-backed boards (rebacked preserving original gilt spines, new green-stained vellum tips).
Special Notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
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Time, Location
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