Marne with Reims and Epernay Champage regions. Levasseur c1854

by Levasseur, Victor

Dept. de la Marne. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. Antique map of Department of Marne, north-east of Paris. It is the champagne centre of France. The capital is Chalons-en-Champagne (formerly known as Chalons-sur-Marne). Important wine regions are Epernay champagne centre, and Reims champagne centre (where kings of France with traditionally crowned in its famous cathedral). 
  
Original steel-engraved map with its geography surrounded by a superbly engraved narrative of the region, with illustrations of produce, commerce, industry, local landmarks, peasants in regional dress, historically important personage, coats of arms, and scrolls containing statistical information. Geographer and engineer Victor Levasseur established his reputation as a mapmaker between 1838 and 1854 with this series of maps for one of the most decorative atlases ever published, Atlas National Illustre (Illustrated National Atlas) published in Paris circa 1854.

The outlining and hand-colour within the map is contemporary (from the time of publication). The beautiful hand-colour to the heavily engraved decoration is of a later date, but certainly makes this a stunning map. With wide margins, size is approximately 35 x 52cm (13.5 x 20.51 inches). Map to border measures 27.5 x 42.5 cm (11 x 16.25 inches).