Catalog Archive
Auction 123, Lot 50

"Mappemonde a l'Usage du Roi…", Delisle/Dezauche

Subject: World

Period: 1785 (dated)

Publication: Atlas Geographique des Quartes Parties du Monde

Color: Hand Color

Size:
25.5 x 17.8 inches
64.8 x 45.2 cm
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Impressive, large double hemisphere presented in Delisle's crisp, elegant style. The advertisement cartouche mentions the recent discoveries and voyages of Captain Cook, whose exploration routes and dates are noted on the map. The Pacific Northwest and the coasts of Australia and New Zealand are updated with information from his expeditions. There is a note in the newly discovered O-Why-Hee (Hawaii) noting the date that Capt. Cook perished in 1779.

The title cartouche is centered on the French royal coat of arms. However, the royal crown and coat-of-arms has been defaced with black ink, indicating that this map was altered just after the French Revolution of 1789. After the Revolution, any type of aristocratic crest or coat of arms was outlawed, particularly the royal crest. Royal furniture, rugs and decorative items sold after the Revolution were sold with the stipulation that any royal symbols were removed. Any map that featured a royal insignia would have brought a violent reaction from the new regime.

References:

Condition: B+

Dark impression and fine hand coloring in outline on a sheet of thick hand laid paper with watermark and wide margins. The lower portion of the left margin removed to the platemark, replaced with old but not matching paper. There is tiny loss at centerfold top from oxidation of the ink used to deface the royal insignia, with paper on verso to reinforce it.

Estimate: $1,400 - $1,800

Unsold

Closed on 2/20/2008

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