"[3 works in 1 volume] Le Nouveau et Curieux Atlas Geographique et Historique, ou le Divertissement des Empereurs, Roys, et Princes... [and] Nouveau Atlas Francois [and] Les Veritables Portrais des Roys de France", Chiquet, Jacques

This impressive volume contains three works by Chiquet, each with its own title page: two atlases and a set of portraits of French kings. The first atlas is Le Nouveau et Curieux Atlas, which contains 24 maps and 3 astronomical plates, each accompanied by a page of text. Originally created by Antoine Menard and published by Chiquet in 1711, Chiquet deleted Menard's name throughout when he republished the atlas eight years later. The title page for this atlas features cartographers and explorers reviewing maps. The maps include the world, each of the five continents, and 17 maps of European countries. The delicately engraved double-hemisphere world map features the island of California and a Northwest Passage. There is little interior detail with only major nations named. Ter. de Jesso appears off the east coast of Asia, Australia is incomplete and still attached to New Guinea, only the west coast of New Zealand appears, and there is still a partial coastline for Terres Australes.

The charming L'Amerique Septentrionale features the island of California with an indented northern coast and Cap Blanc, Port des Roys and Pointe de la Cair at its northern end. The British colonies are shown confined east of the Appalachians, with France in control of the region between there and the Mississippi River. Spain controls all of the West and Florida. The decorative title cartouche is flanked by two serpents. Two ships and a sea monster fill the Atlantic.

The second atlas is Chiquet's Nouveau Atlas Francois, which features 15 maps of France and its regions or "gouvernements." The title page to this atlas shows the arms of each of the 12 regions, the French royal arms, and two angels blowing horns. The third piece in this volume is Chiquet's Les Veritables Portrais des Roys de France, which includes 6 pages of portraits of the kings of France beginning with Pharamond from 420 AD to Louis XV in 1715. The title page to this work also features the French royal arms, two angels, and implements of war.

Chiquet only published two cartographic works, Le Nouveau et Curieux Atlas and Nouveau Atlas Francois also published in 1719, and his works are therefore uncommon. In total there are three title pages, 39 maps, 9 plates, text, and an index. Oblong 8vo, full leather binding with gilt title "Atlas" on spine.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.CHI-1a; cf. Shirley (BL Atlases) T.MEN-1b.

Condition: B+

Nearly all of the maps and plates are in very good to excellent condition. The maps have contemporary outline color, minor toning and light soiling. Only the maps of North America and South America are in lesser (B) condition due to moderate toning. The index to the first atlas has several dark dampstains, and there is a faint dampstain confined to the right blank margin on the portraits of the kings. The covers and spine are heavily rubbed with staining and chips to the leather.