French Department of Aisne antique map by Levasseur c1847

by Levasseur, Victor

Dept. de l'Aisne. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. Antique map of Department of Aisne (capital city, Laon) in the north region of Hauts-de-France (previously Picardie). It is now an important agricultural region, particularly for cereal crops and beet sugar, with the centre of Guise in the north. Then an important paper-making region, and silk, cotton and wool weaving, centred around Saint-Quentin. Since the 17th century, Saint-Gobain has been renowned for its mirrors.

Superb original steel-engraved map circa c1847 for one of the most spectacular atlases ever published, Atlas National Illustre (Illustrated National Atlas) by Victor Levasseur. Illustrations are by Aristede-Michel Perrot and Raimond Bonheur, statistics and geography were by Levasseur, and engraving was by Laguillermie and Rainaud. Roads and railways of the period are shown on the map which is surrounded by a superb engraved narrative of the region, representing produce, industry, commerce, important people from the region, the coat of Arms representing the River Aisne, and interesting statistics.

This map is full-size as published, with contemporary regional outlining of the map. Hand-colour of the heavily engraved border, done at some later time, certainly adds to the overall decorativeness of the map.