Ile de la Réunion. Superb antique map. Levasseur c1854.

by Levasseur, Victor

Beautiful antique map of Island of Reunion.

The French Department of La Réunion or French Départment d'Outre-Mer de la Réunion island, is one of the Mascarene Islands in the south Indian Sea off South Africa.

The central map with contemporary coloured pen outlining, is surrounded by a beautifully engraved pictorial narrative of the island, important people (Parny and Bertin), normal mortals in local dress, and produce and industries of the region, with a view of the city on the shoreline and tall mountains beyond. At the base of the map are statistics - surrounded by local vegetation and surmounted by draped cloth-and-vine suspending a beribboned, framed building.

The statistics and geography are by geographic engineer, Victor Levasseur (1795-1862), engraved by A. Piat for Levasseur's Atlas National Illustré (Illustrated National Atlas). The accuracy of Levasseur map combined with the distinctive elaborate decoration established Levasseur's reputation as a mapmaker. His maps are some of the most decorative produced.

This map is in very good condition, with fine later additional  colour that certainly adds to its appeal. There is large margin  round the map, as issued. Page size is 365 x 535mm (14 3/8 x 21 inches).