Indre Department of France. Levasseur decorative map c1854. Chateaux & hunting..

by Levasseur, Victor

Dept. de l'Indre. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. 
Antique map of the Department of Indre in central France.
  
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 within the map is contemporary (from the time of publication). The beautiful hand-colour to the heavily engraved decoration (not done justice in this scan) is of a later date, but certainly makes this a stunning map. With wide borders, its size is approximately 36 x 54cm (14 x 21 inches).