Catalog Archive
Auction 153, Lot 649

"Asie", Levasseur, Victor

Subject: Asia

Period: 1845 (circa)

Publication: Atlas Universel Illustre

Color: Hand Color

Size:
17.3 x 11.4 inches
43.9 x 29 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

Victor Levasseur's "Atlas National Illustre" and "Atlas Universel Illustre" are among the last decorative atlases published. The maps are all lavishly illustrated with scenes of the countryside, products and activities indigenous to the region.

This decorative map of the Asian continent is surrounded by steel engraved vignettes depicting the various peoples of Asia in costume, several exotic animals, and a seated portrait of Adam and Eve. The map graphically depicts the Great Wall of China, and extends to include Sumatra and Borneo. Iran is Perse, Thailand is Siam and Sri Lanka is Ceylan. There is an interesting population chart at right totaling only 638,550,000 for the entire continent. The illustrations were drawn by Raimond Bonheur, father of the famous painter Rosa Bonheur, who trained under her father.

References:

Condition: B+

Original outline color on a lightly toned sheet with faint scattered foxing. There are remnants of hinge tape on verso and in the top right corner on recto.

Estimate: $140 - $180

Sold for: $80

Closed on 5/20/2015

Archived