Complete Atlas with 35 Maps in Contemporary Color

"Atlas Moderne ou Collection de Cartes sur Toutes les Parties du Globe Terrestre par Plusieurs Auteurs", Lattre, Jean

This complete atlas contains 35 double-page maps of all regions around the world, an engraving of an armillary sphere, and a lovely title page featuring a globe, atlases, maps, and symbols of the four continents. The maps include a world map, 22 maps related to Europe (with a four-sheet map of Germany and two-sheet maps of France and Italy), 4 maps related to Asia, 3 maps related to Africa, 4 maps related to the Americas, and a map of the regions of the New Testament. Most of the maps include an elaborate and superbly engraved title cartouche featuring emblems of the region. Some of the noteworthy maps in this atlas include:

Mappe-Monde ou Description du Globe Terrestre, Assujettie aux Observations Astronomiques. In North America there is a distinct Northwest Passage connecting Hudson Bay with the large Sea of the West and the Pacific. Alaska is shown in dotted outline as an extremely lengthy peninsula based on the Russian discoveries of Bering and Tschirikow. Australia is shown attached to both Tasmania and New Guinea with a conjectural eastern coastline incorporating Terre du S. Espirit (New Hebrides), as is commonly found on French maps at the time. The place name Terre de Diemen is shown twice, in Tasmania and in Arnhem Land in the region of today's Darwin. New Zealand is shown as just a little scribble of coastline in the South Pacific.

L'Amerique Septentrionale Divisee en ses Principaux Etats. This fascinating map shows the imaginary Sea of the West and a Northwest Passage stretching from Baffin Bay to the Archipel St. Lazare on the Pacific coast. The gigantic Sea the West, near modern-day Seattle, is connected to the Pacific by the straits of Juan de Fuca and Martin d' Aguilar. New Albion is on the southwest shore of this great inland sea, which inundates virtually all of present-day British Columbia and Alberta. There is not any sign of a recognizable Alaska. The British colonies are confined east of the Appalachian Mountains with French Louisiana stretching to the Pacific Northwest. Florida is controlled by Spain. Ft. Cenis and Santa Fe are visible within the Spanish territories in the southwest, labeled Nouveau Mexique here. The large, decorative title cartouche, incorporating a palm tree and grape vines, was engraved by Berthault.

L'Amerique Divisee par Grands Etats. This fine map of the Americas again shows a huge, imaginary Sea of the West and hints of a possible Northwest Passage, and a rudimentary Alaska. In North America, the British colonies are shown east of the Allegheny mountains, French Louisiana takes in most of the interior and Spain controls Florida, New Mexico and Mexico. There are several islands shown in the Pacific and just the western coastline of New Zealand.

Hardbound in full mottled calf with red leather title label, gilt tooling, and raised bands on spine.

References: McGuirk #107-109; Perry & Prescott #1762.01.

Condition: A

In general the maps are clean and bright with contemporary outline color. Nearly all of the maps are in near fine condition (A) with occasional minor soiling and short centerfold separations confined to the bottom blank margin on a few maps. The map of Asia has a stain at bottom adjacent to the cartouche, and the map of France has a separation that enters 1/2" at bottom and an adjacent tear that enters 2" into map image. There is a light damp stain along the sheet edges of the last two maps (both Holy Land), and there are more extensive damp stains on the free end-papers, the title page, and the "Avertissement." The hinges are starting, the spine is cracked and chipped, and the covers have some abrasions and bumped corners.