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Large antique engraved map by de Vaugondy depicting Ancient Egypt divided into three parts: Superior or Thebais, Media or Heptanomia, and Inferior or Delta. The concentration of civilization along the Nile and particularly the Nile Delta is evident.
The title vignette, engraved by Gobin, shows a personification of the Nile at the foot of a pyramid with a crocodile, sphynx, obelisk, and a sarcophagus.
Rarity
This is map is evidently quite rare; we find an example in the BnF, but otherwise, it does not seem to have traded. There is no record for it RBH, nor in the OldMaps.com database.
Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) was the head of a leading family of geographers in eighteenth century France. Gilles got his start when he jointly inherited the shop of Pierre-Moullart Sanson, grandson of the famous geographer Nicholas Sanson. The inheritance included the business, its stock of plates, and a roller press. In 1760 Gilles became geographer to King Louis XV. His son, Didier Robert de Vaugondy (ca. 1723-1786), was also a geographer and the two worked together. They were known for their exactitude and depth of research. In 1757, they produced the Atlas Universel, considered an authority for many years.
![[Cairo] Warhaffte abcontrafehtung der machtigen und vesten Statt Alkair](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/82970.jpg)
