- Title: MAPPE MONDE ou DESCRIPTION DU GLOBE TERRESTRE Assujettie aux Observations Astronomiques
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Author: Jean Denis Janvier and Jean Lattré
- Date: 1774
- Condition: See description
- Inches: 26 x 20 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 66.04 x 50.80 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308484
This exquisite double-hemisphere map is framed by an ornate architectural border, richly adorned with symbolic representations of the four continents. The chart traces the routes of prominent explorers—Anson, Mendana, Magellan, Le Maire, and Halley—highlighting their discoveries and contributions to our understanding of the world. Australia appears with its eastern shoreline and the southern coast of Tasmania rendered, though speculative lines connect Tasmania with the mainland, reflecting contemporary geographic knowledge. New Zealand is shown with a complete outline, yet notably, the track of Captain Cook’s first Pacific voyage is absent. In North America, cartography remains incomplete: the northwestern coastline is only sketched, Alaska is nearly omitted, and place names are sparse—restricted to a few sites such as El Paso on the Rio Grande, New Orleans, St. Augustine, Charleston, New York, Boston, Montreal, and Quebec.
Background on Creator(s)
Jean Denis Janvier (1746–1782) was a Paris-based French cartographer and engraver, known for his ornate, highly detailed maps and for holding the title “Geographe Avec Privilege du Roi” from the French monarchy. He collaborated with leading publishers of his time, and his influential works appeared in major wall maps and atlases throughout the late 18th century, leaving a lasting legacy on Enlightenment-era cartography.
Jean Lattré (1700-1780) was an influential French engraver, bookseller, map publisher, globe maker, and calligrapher, active in Paris from the mid to late 18th century. He was renowned for producing a large corpus of maps, atlases, and globes, and collaborated closely with some of the era’s leading cartographers, including Jean Denis Janvier, Giovanni Antonio Rizzi Zannoni, Rigobert Bonne, Charles François Delamarche, and also forged ties with prominent international mapmakers such as William Faden of London and Santini of Italy.
Condition
Original outline color with later enhancements to the cartouche, has been dissected and mounted on linen, and displays moderate overall toning and soiling. There are light damp stains along the lower edge and minor chipping at the sheet’s corners, resulting in small losses to the neatline at the bottom left.