Subject: Lesser Antilles
Period: 1827 (published)
Publication: Atlas Universel
Color: Hand Color
Size:
21.5 x 18 inches
54.6 x 45.7 cm
Very handsome, scarce map of the islands between St. Croix and Grenade. There are many place names along the shoreline, but little interior detail. Extensive French text describes the major islands. The Atlas Universel was the first atlas to present all the maps on the same scale (1: 1,641,836), with each map covering an area of approximately 20 degrees of longitude (from Paris) and 6 degrees of latitude. It was also considered to be the first lithographic atlas ever published. The maps were designed so they could be joined together to form a huge globe measuring 7.75 meters in diameter. There was only one edition of the atlas, published in 1825-27, and the subscription list shows that only 810 copies were sold.
References:
Condition: A
Near fine example with just two small foxing or toning areas. Beautiful original hand coloring, crisp dark impression and very wide margins.