"Nouvelle Carte de France, d'Apres les Dernieres Decouvertes des Savants et des Explorateurs", Yves & Barrey

This humorous map of France was created by Albert Robida and engraved by Yves & Barret. Tongue-in-cheek imagery fills the map, including some with dark, aggressive undertones, such as cannons made of wine bottles and locals from Provence and Gascony boiling in large stews. Paris is depicted as a both a large "political" oven and a "government machine." Other whimsical illustrations are also included, such as women bathing by the seaside, a happy cow in Normandy, and picturesque castles. The island of Guernsey is represented by a caricature of French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. Surrounding the map are vignettes of important and historic French cities: Avignon, Paris, Rouen, Marseille, Le Puy, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, Versailles, and Carcassonne. Below the map is satirical text describing France and its people. The French are described as "all beautiful, shapely, gracious, intelligent and spiritual" and those who don't possess all of these qualities combined have some "interbreeding" in their family history. It is also noted that although the French government changes from time to time, in all cases "either the government is annoying the people or the people are annoying the government." Paris is noted as having a good climate for umbrella merchants. This broadside was published as a supplement to the 23 December 1882 edition of "La Caricature" magazine.

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Condition: B+

Issued folding, now flattened with minor soiling and backed in thin, archival tissue to repair several short fold separations, small holes at fold intersections, a 2" tear in the Gulf of Lion and a 3" tear in the vignette of Paris at right.