- Title: Tableau Comparatif De La Hauteur Des Chutes D'Eau Les Plus Celebres.
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Author: J. Andriveau-Goujon
- Date: 1840
- Condition: Excellent - Even, overall age toning with a clean, sharply defined centerfold
- Inches: 22 1/8 x 15 7/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 56.19 x 40.32 [Image]
- Product ID: 308621
Serving as a meticulously crafted reference, this comparative chart highlights the tallest waterfalls known to science during the early 19th century. Dedicated to the Societe de Geographie, the print visually ranks these natural marvels by their measured heights, placing the Cascade de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees—at a remarkable 1,266 feet—as the tallest waterfall on record at the time.
Produced during an era of expanding geographic inquiry, the chart reflects the intellectual climate shaped by scientific expeditions and institutional classification. The Societe de Geographie, France's prestigious geographical society, actively encouraged documentation and comparison of global phenomena. Bruguiere, an esteemed member, created this aquatint as both a scientific tool and a celebration of exploration. Among the waterfalls listed are the Falls of the Missouri, St. Anthony Falls, Cataracts of the Nile and Orinoco, Falling Spring in Virginia, Wilberforce, and Niagara Falls—revealing the extent and limitations of geographical knowledge before the world's tallest falls were discovered.
Background on Creator
J. Andriveau-Goujon (1832-1897) was a prominent Parisian mapmaker and publisher active throughout the 19th century, known for producing numerous maps and atlases that often-featured collaboration with leading French cartographers such as Brue and Levasseur. The publishing house, originally formed when Eugène Andriveau married the daughter of Jean Goujon, became renowned for its high-quality publications under the Andriveau-Goujon name, which was used by multiple generations of the family. The firm's offerings were highly regarded until its stock was acquired by M. Barrère in 1892.