Haute-Vienne Department. Antique map with horse and cow. Victor Levasseur c1850.

by Levasseur, Victor

Dept. de la Hte. Vienne. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. Antique map of Department of Upper Vienne with capital city Limoges, in the region of Limousin.

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 1850.

The hand-colour within the map is contemporary (from the time of publication). The beautiful hand-colour to the decoratively engraved border is of a later date, but certainly makes this a very beautiful map. With wide margins, approximate measurements are 35 x 52 cm (13.75 x 20.5 inches), with engraved map 275 x 510 mm (11 x 16 inches). Unfortunately, to produce a clear scan the size of the pic and margins is limited.