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REFINE
Browse All : Covers of Africa
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Author
Vandermaelen, Philippe, 1795-1869
Note
A complete set of the six volume Atlas Universel in original bindings of half red leather teal cloth covered boards with title "Vandermaelen. Atlas Universel..." embossed in gold on the spine. This monumental work was the first atlas of the world with all maps on the same scale (and a large scale at that - about one inch to 26 miles) and the first lithographed world atlas. If all the maps were joined together they would form a globe of 7.75 meters in diameter (such a globe was made in Brussels). The maps were published originally in parts of ten maps each, beginning in 1825 and ending in 1827. Vandermaelen's maps are frequently misunderstood because each map is usually best comprehended in the context of its neighboring maps - the maps do not function well on their own, since they were all meant to be joined. Koeman states that "His atlases, although unique in concept and size did not possess that fine touch of cartographic style which make them attractive for a collector..." We strongly disagree - the graphic art of the maps must be appreciated in the context of lithography, a developing art at the time; as lithographs, they are very well done. For many of the areas depicted, these maps are the largest scale maps made at the time, and the most detailed (particularly in the American West). Maps are hand painted in outline color.
Author
Bellin, Jacques Nicolas, 1703-1772
Note
Bellin was an important maker of charts for the French Depot de la Marine. He was born in Paris in 1703 and educated as an engineer. He produced many important charts and published them individually and in compilations. The Neptune Francais was published in 1753 and the Hydrographie Francaise in 1756. His largest and most comprehensive work is the Petit Atlas Maritime with 581 charts (our copy has 582, including the rare "Carte Reduite des Decouvertes des Russe Entre L'Asie et L'Amerique.") that cover the coasts and important port cities of the known world. The Petit Atlas Maritime is probably the best compilation of plans of maritime towns and harbors of its time. Bellin died in Versailles in 1772. According to Tooley, Bellin issued an earlier version of this atlas in 1763 titled Petit Atlas Francois. The Duc de Choiseul provided financial support for the publication of the atlas. J. Arrivet is listed as engraver on the chart index pages and may also have engraved the charts themselves.
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