Catalog Archive
Auction 138, Lot 476

"Les Isles Britanniques ou Sont le Rme. d'Angleterre Tire de Sped Celuy d'Ecosse…", Delisle, Guillaume

Subject: Britain

Period: 1702 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
24 x 18.5 inches
61 x 47 cm
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This is Delisle's influential map of the British Isles that was first published in 1702. It is based on the foremost authorities: Speed for England and Wales, Pont for Scotland, and Petty for Ireland. The bottom right shows the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France and at the upper right is the southern tip of Norway. The important fishing banks in the North Sea are prominently illustrated and De Kimmen ou le Borneur traces what is now known to be the edge of the European continental shelf. The note at lower left explains that Delisle doubts the existence of the islands of Brasil and Assmanda, which appeared on earlier maps. The large title cartouche incorporates mermen, fishing nets, sea birds and sea monsters and is surmounted by Neptune. Another decorative cartouche contains five distance scales flanked by hunting dogs. The map is engraved by J.B. Liebaux and the cartouche is engraved by C. Simonneau. This is the fifth state, published after January 1708, with the imprint of the Amsterdam bookseller L. Renard imperfectly erased below the scale cartouche.

References: Shirley (BI) Delisle 1.

Condition: B+

Wide margins on watermarked paper with a long centerfold separation at bottom that has been closed on verso with old paper. There are a few short tears in upper blank margin that have also been closed on verso with old paper.

Estimate: $350 - $450

Sold for: $200

Closed on 12/7/2011

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