Levasseur Department of Gers. Beautiful antique map of Gers department c1854

by Levasseur, Victor

Levasseur antique map of Gers department in France c1854. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement du Gers.
 
Original steel-engraved map circa 1854 of Gers Department in the Midi-Pyrenees region of the south west of France. This beautiful map of Gers is surrounded by a superbly engraved narrative of the region, with illustrations of produce (including grapes for Armagnac production), commerce, industry, geography, historically important people, and scrolls with statistical information. Engraving is by F. George and Charles Smith, illustrations are by Aristede-Michel Perrot and Raimond Bonheur, and geography and statistics are by Victor Levasseur.

Levasseur established his reputation as a mapmaker between 1838 and 1854 with these beautiful maps for one of the most spectacular atlases ever published, Atlas National Illustre (Illustrated National Atlas). The outlining within the map is contemporary (from the time of publication). The fine hand-colour to the heavily engraved decoration is later, but certainly makes this a stunning map. With wide borders, as published this map is on a page approximately 36 x 54 cm (14 x 21 inches).