Levasseur French Department of Jura in Burgundy. c1854

by Levasseur, Victor

Levasseur Jura department map c1854. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement du Jura.
 
Original steel-engraved map circa 1854 of Jura Department in the eastern region of Franche-Conte in Burgundy. Prefecture (Capital city) is Lons-le-Saunier - previous major cities were Dole and Besancon. Jura is a wine-growing region with the ancient white savagnin grapes for vin-jaune (like sherry), poulsard, trousseau and chardonnay.

This beautiful map of Jura is surrounded by a superbly engraved narrative of the region, with illustrations of produce, commerce, industry, geography, historically important people, coat of arms, and scrolls with statistical information. Engraving is by Leclerc, with geography and statistics 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 54 x 36 cm (21 x 14 inches).