Catalog Archive
Auction 118, Lot 169

"[Lot of 4 - Arctic Canada]", Vandermaelen, Philippe Marie Guillaume

Subject: Canadian Arctic

Period: 1827 (published)

Publication: Atlas Universel de Geographie Physique, Politique, Statistique et Mineralogique

Color: Hand Color

Size:
22.8 x 19 inches
57.9 x 48.3 cm
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This set of maps describes the far, known Arctic regions including Barrow's Strait and Prince Regent's inlet, a bit of Baffin Bay and Melville Island. The Atlas Universel was the first atlas to present all the maps on the same scale (1: 1,641,836), with each map covering an area of approximately 20 degrees of longitude (from Paris) and 6 degrees of latitude. It was also considered to be the first lithographic atlas ever published. The maps were meant to be joined together to form a huge globe, which measured 7.75 meters in diameter. There was only one edition of the atlas, published in 1825-27, and the subscription list shows that only 810 copies were sold. The maps are as follows:

1) Amer. Sep. Iles George. No. 1, showing Melville Island.
2) Amer. Sep. Decouvertes Boreales. No. 2, showing Barrow Strait.
3) Amer. Sep. Baie de Baffin. No. 3, showing the northeast portion of Baffin Bay.
4) Amer. Sep. Decouvertes Boreales. N0. 9, showing the entrance to Foxe Basin and Repulse Bay.

References:

Condition: B

Generally good with a few scattered spots and some light, centerfold toning.

Estimate: $300 - $500

Sold for: $200

Closed on 3/6/2007

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