Maine et Loire Dept of France. Levasseur antique map c1860

by Levasseur, Victor

Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. Antique Map of Department de Maine-et-Loire in the Pays de la Loire region in west-central France. Muscadet production and important farming region. Besides wine-making, the history and chateaux of this region make it a fascinating place to visit.
  
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 superb maps for one of the most decorative atlases ever published, Atlas National Illustre (Illustrated National Atlas) published in Paris circa 1860.

The outlining and regional solid hand-colour within the map, is contemporary (from the time of publication). The beautiful hand-colour to the heavily engraved decoration is later, but certainly makes this a stunning map.
With wide borders, its size is approximately 370 x 515 mm (14.5 x 20 inches). Engraved map measures 290 x 420mm (11.5 x 16.5 inches)