An Exceptionally Unusual and Desirable Presentation of Sanson's Introduction a la Geographie.
The Largest-Known Example, Extra-Illustrated with an Additional 93 Maps and a Treatise of Greek Geography.
Important and very rare work from the Sanson family's late publishing output: the folio edition of Pierre Moullart-Sanson's Introduction a la Geographie.
With only six copies of this work in a folio presentation known to exist, this edition of the Introduction is very rare in its own right. However, this example of the work is particularly notable as it is extra-illustrated with an additional 93 maps and a sixteen-page work entitled Graeciae Antiquae Descriptio Geographica in Tabulas, making it by far the largest of the extra-illustrated copies recorded.
This work, at its core, is an augmentation of the quarto-sized edition of the work. Many of the engraved plates in the first two parts of the book remain the same, but the title page and the text has been reset. The upgrade to folio size appears to have been done so that extra complements of maps could be added to the end of the work to form the basis for a composite atlas. The third portion of the quarto-sized Introduction, which deviates from the more theoretical aspects of the first two parts and deals with applied toponyms and geographical, is replaced by the suite of folio maps in this edition.
The work, in its entirety, is meant to serve a pedagogical purpose. The maps, volvelles, diagrams, and charts of the solar system found in the first portion of the book instruct the reader on different types of projections, principles of geometry that are important to cartography, the celestial underpinnings of certain measurements, and other knowledge key to the mapmaker's art. The folio maps appended at the back of the book further this purpose. Many of the maps have associated tables of placenames as often found in French teaching atlases. These can be laid in, tipped in, or found attached to the maps. Other maps have associated short essays and, at one point, there is even an unusual and didactic depiction of a cube that has been laid in.
Galliae Antiquae Descriptio Geographica Autore Nicolas Sanson
The atlas includes a suite of six maps that represent an unusual deviation from Sanson's extremely rare six-sheet wall map of ancient France from 1627. The bottom two sheets of the map are present (map 84). However, the rest of the map is an amalgamation of other plates, some of which have individual titling, that form a geographically complete map of France during the Classical period. The map does not include the coverage shown by the upper right sheet in the 1627 edition, which only contains a cartouche and stretches into the Low Countries.
The map is extremely rare, and we locate only copies at Oxford and the Rumsey Center (Stanford). Oxford describes their copy as follows:
Later reissue of Sanson's 1627 6 sheet map of France, revised by Pierre Moulart-Sanson, with changes to borders and decoration and additional individual sheet titles. Top right corner with cartouche and part of title replaced with pasted on sheet. Original dedication replaced with cartouche title: Gallia Antiqua in partes duas, regionis quatuor, provincias septemdecim et populos centum./ Dedication at bottom of cartouche: Ludovico XV° Galliarum Regi Christianissimo geographicum hanc Galliae Antiquae tabulam post omnium curas elaboratum offert dedicat consecrat Petrus Moullart-Sanson. Scale bars in Leuce Gallicae and in Milliaria Romana./ Relief shown pictorially. Small lower left portion with cartouche and dedication to the reader "Lectori benevolo .. " on separate sheet.
The preservation of the 1627 edition for the bottom two sheets suggests that Pierre Moullart-Sanson may have found this part of the original copperplates and sought to redo his predecessor's project.
Mappemonde ou Carte Marine Universelle Reduite, ou sont L'Asie. . .
This very rare world map shows a means of recording the day's length according to the sun's Zodiacal position thus allowing (in theory) a means of calculating degrees of longitude. This was thought to be a possible way of solving the key Longitude Problem, seven years before the Longitude Prize would be offered in London. The full title translates to:
World map or reduced universal marine map: where are Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America / by Pierre Moullart-Sanson, geographer of the King. We find on the parallel or degrees of latitude of this map the hours of days according to the sign where the sun is, the difference of the shadows, by the mean of which M. d'Estoubeville attempted to demonstrate the longitudes.
We note only two separate examples of the map coming onto the market in the past thirty years.
A Note on Completeness
The paginations for the Introduction are highly irregular. They include one gap, of plates 8 and 9, however, we confirm that, in the other copies of the work we were able to investigate, these pages are also not present (this appears to be a carry-over of the pagination from the quarto edition). Thus, we conclude that this section is complete.
There is also 18th-century manuscript pagination present throughout the book. This pagination is also highly convoluted but also appears to suggest completeness. Some numbers are applied to multiple maps with related subject matter (e.g., 96-1; 96-2; and 96-3). However, this is not enumerated in a simple sequence - rather, sections of the book are paginated in an order one might not expect (i.e., 96-1; 97-1; 98-1; 96-2; 97-2. . .). In addition, this order may be further convoluted with duplications and other inconstitencies. It is unclear where this unusual pagination stems from, whether from an early observer trying to "correct" the order of the book or from a later binder's error. Nevertheless, the book appears complete according to this pagination system as well.
Rarity
We locate only a few other examples of Sanson's Introduction in a folio presentation, all with fewer maps than the example presented here:
- The Mariner's Museum Library, dated 1705, with 25 maps.
- Private American collection, dated 1710, with 30 maps.
- Beinecke, dated 1719, with 38 maps.
- BNF, dated 1722, with an unspecified number of maps.
- Newberry Library, dated 1732, with 37 maps.
List of Maps
- Mappe-Monde ou Description du Globe Terrestre ou l'on trouve en Generale. . .
- L'Asie par N. Sanson, Geographe ordre du Roy
- Partie Meridionale de L'Inde en deux Presqu'Isles. . .
- La Chine Royaume
- L'Afrique divisee en ses Pricipales Parties ou Les Empires Les Monarchies Les Royaumes. . .
- Partie de la Barbarie ou est le Royaume d'Alger divise en ses Provinces. . .
- Royme et Desert de Barca et L'Egypte Divisee en ses douze Cassiss ou Gouvernemens. . .
- Isle Dauphine, Communement Nomee par les Europeans Madagascar . . .
- Americque Septentrionale Par le Sr. Sanson [on same sheet as 10]
- Amerique Meridionale Divisee Suivant les Regions . . .
- les Isles Antilles &c. Entre lesquelles sont Les Lucayes, et Les Caribes. . .
- Le Perou et le cours de la Riviere Amazone et depuis ses sources jusques . . .
- L'Europe Par N. Sanson . . .
- Isles Britanniques ou sont l'Angleterre l'Escosse et l'Irlande
- Le Royaume D'Angleterre divise dans les sept Royaumes ou Heptarchies des Anglois-Saxons. . .
- Nort-Iutlande Subdivisee en ses quatre Dioeceses; Selande, Fuynen ou Fionie, Isles et Provinces du Royuame de Danemarck
- Royaume de Norwege Subdivise en ses principaux Gouvernements. . .
- Estats de la Couronne de Suede dans la Scandinavie; ou Sont Suede, Gotlande, Lapponie Suedoise . . .
- Estats du Czar ou Grand Duc de la Russie Blanche ou Moscovie
- La France et les environs, jusques a l'Estendue de L'ancienne Gaule divisee en ses. . .
- La France et les Conquestes ou son distingues pour le Gouvernement Politique les Gouvernements Generaux de Milice. . .
- Gouvernement General de la Picardie, Artois, Boulenois, et Pays Reconquis, &c
- Duche et Gouvernement de Normandie
- Gouvernement General de L'Isle de France et Pays Circomvoisins
- Diocese, Prevoste, et Eslection de Paris Le Diocese est divise en Archipbres, ou Doyennes . . .
- Champagne et Brie
- Leuci Archidiaconnes de Toul, de Ligny, et Reynel, Dans l'Evesche de Toul ou sont les Comte. . .
- Duche, et Gouvernement de Bretagne.
- Gouvernement General d'Orleans, Suivant les derniers Estats Generaux, et qui Comprend le Maine, le Perche. . .
- Le Duche et Gont de Bourgogne ou Sont les Balliages de Dijon, de Semeur, d'Autun. . .
- Gouverenem Genral du Lyonnois, Suivant les derniers Estats Generaux ou sont le Lyonnois Forez Beauiolois, Bourbonois. . .
- Gouverement General de Guienne, et Guascogne et Pays circonvoisins ou sont la Guienne, La Saintonge. . .
- Gouvernemt Genral du Languedoc divise en ses Vingt deux Dioceses. . .
- Le Gouvernement Genral du Daufine, et des Pays circonvoisins ou sont La Savoye. . .
- Comte, et Gouvernement de Provence Aveq les Pays circonvoisins. . .
- L'Empire d'Allemagne divise en ses dix Cercles ces Cercles en leurs principaux. . .
- Les Provinces Unies Des Pays-Base scavoir Le Duche de Gueldre, les Comtes de Hollande, de Zelande, de Zutphen. . .
- Les Provinces des Pays-Bas Catholiques Vulgairement Connues sous le Nom de Flandre . . .
- Les Campemens des Armees du Roy dans les Pays-Bas Depuis L'Annnee 1690 Jusques-En 1694. . .
- Menapii Evesches d'Anvers, et de Bosleduc, Partie Septentrnale du Duche de Brabant, ou sont les Quartiers d'Anvers. . .
- Menapii Dioecese de L'Archevche de Malines Partie Meridionale du Duche de Brabant. . .
- Menapii Evesche de Ruremonde Quartier de Gueldres dans le Duche de Gueldres
- L'Etat et la Seignri de Lyege partie Septentrionale. . .
- Centrones, et Grudij in Morinis. Les Evesches de Gand, et de Brugges. Partie Orientale du Comte de Flandre.
- Morini, Gorduni, et Pleumosij in Morinis. Les Evesches de St. Omer, Ipres, et Tournay.
- Atrebates Evesche d'Arras Comte d'Artois. . .
- Nervii Diocese de L'Archevesche de Cambray ou sont les Comte de Haynaut, Le Cambresis. . .
- Aduatici. Evesche de Namur. Comte de Namur, et partie de l'Estat et Seignrie de Lyege.
- Parmani in Eburonibus. Partie du Dioecese de Lyege. Partie du Duche de Luxembourg. . .
- Caeraesi in Treveris Partie du Dioecese de l'Archevche de Treves. Partie Meridionale du Duche de Luxembourg. . .
- Le Cercle Electoral du Rhein. Les Archeveches et Electorats de Mayence de Treves de Cologne. . .
- La Souabe ou sont les Estats et Souverainetes Ecclesiastiques, Laiques, et Villes Imperiales. . .
- Bayern. Baviere ou sont Duche, Eslectrat, et Palatnat de Baviere. Archevche de Saltzbourg. . .
- Ertz-Hertzogthumb Oesterrich. Archduche d'Austriche Haute et Basse. . .
- Hertzogthuber Steyer, Karnten, Krain, &c. Duches de Stirie, Carinthie, Carniole, Comte de Cilley. . .
- Haute Saxe. ou Estats du Duc, et Eslecteur; et des Ducs de la Maison Eslectorale de Saxe, &c.
- Churfurstenthum, und March Brandeburg. Eslectorat, et Marqsat de Brandebourg, divise en ses Princples Marches, et Parties, &c.
- Estats de la Couronne de Pologne ou sont les Royaume de Pologne, Duche et Provinces de Prusse, Cuiavie. . .
- La Russie Noire ou Polonoise, qui Comprend les Provinces de la Russie Noire de Volhynie. . .
- L'Espagne divisee en tous ses Royaumes et Principautes suivant qu'ils sont compris sous les Couronnes de Castille et D'Aragon. . .
- Les Estats de la Couronne de Castille, Dans les Parties plus Septentrionales de l'Espagne: et la ou sont Les Royaumes. . .
- Principaute de Catalogne, divisee en neuf Dioeceses; et ene dixsept Vegueries, &c. . .
- Sardones. Evesche de Elne, ou de Perpignan. Comte de Roussilon, ou sot. les Veuerie de Perpignan, Souvegrie de Vall-Spir. . .
- Les Estats de la Couronne de Portugal En Espagne Par le S. Sanson d'Abbeville Geog. ordre du Roy
- L'Italie et les Isles circomvoisines Sicile, Sardagne, Corse, &c. . .
- La Lombardie ou Se trouvent le Duche de Milan Et Les Pais Circonvoisins. Par le Sr. Sanson Geographe du Roi.
- Estats du Duc de Savoye au dela des Alpes, et vers L'Italie qui passent communement sous le nom de Piemont. . .
- Isle et Royaume de Sicile Par N. Sanson d'Abbeville Geographe du Roy.
- Estats de L'Empire du Grand Seigneur des Turqs ou Sultan des Ottomans en Asie, ou Afrique, et en Europe.
- Le Royaume de Hongrie et les Estats qui en ont ete Sujets et qui sont presentent la Partie Septentrionale de la Turquie en Europe. . .
- Isle et Royaume de Candie, tiree de divers Memoires: par le Sr. Sanson.
- Orbis Veteris Utraque Continens, Terrarum, Tractus Arcticus, et Arcticus. . .
- Asia Vetus Autore N. Sanson Abbavilleo. . .
- Africa Vetus, Nicolai Sanson Christianiss. . .
- Europa Vetus Ex Conatibs, Geographicis N. Sanson. . .
- Persaru, Sive Parthorum Imperium, in Duo de viginti Regna. . .
- India Vetus, intra, et extra Gagem. . .
- Romani Imperii qua Occidens est Descriptio Geographica, N. Sanson . . . [additional title] Romani Imperii qua Oriens est Descriptio Geographica
- Gallia vetus ex C. Iulii Caesaris comen taris descripta.
- Galliae Antiquae Descriptio Geographica Autore Nicolas Sanson [maps 79-84 pertain to an unusual configuration of Sanson's wall map of ancient France. For a full discussion, please see the section above]
- Galliae Antiquae Descriptio Geographica Autore Nicolas Sanson
- Galliae Celticae Pars Occidentalis, ubi Rebus Gallorum florentibus. . .
- Aquitania Antiquitus Contenta et at inter Garumnan Fl. et Pyerneaus M in qua tine Clarissimi Populi. . .
- Galliae Celticae Pars Orientalis ubi Rebus. . .
- Galliae antique descriptione hanc (Lector Benevole) ad Veterum mentem geographice delineatam. . .
- Hispania Antiquae Tablua Authore N. Sanson Christinuss Gall. . .
- Italia Antiqua Cum Insulis Sicilia Sardinia & Corsica. . .
- Graeciae Antiquae Tabula Geogrpahica, Cujus Quinque Majores Partes sunt Macedonia, Thessalia, Epirus. . .
- Creta Insula Plerumq, Deum Natalibus, Iovis Incunabulis, Sepulchroq; Inclyta; Adventu Europae, Minoe Rege. . .
- La Geographie Sacree, ou Description des Terres Habitee par les Descendans. . .
- Geographiae Sacrae ex Veteri, et Novo Testamento desumptae Tabula in qua Terra Promissa, sive Iudea in suas Tribus Partesq, distincta. . .
- Iesu Christi Salvatoris Nostrui et Apostolorum Petri, et Pauli, Mansiones. . .
- Geographia Synodica sive Regionum, Urbium, et Locorum ubi Celbrata Sunt Concilia Oecumenica, Nationalia, Provincialia. . .
Collation
[Title]; [vii]; 1-7; 10-68 [this section including 19 single-page engraved plates and maps and 2 double-paged engraved maps]; [87 copper-plate engraved maps] ; [ii]; 1-16; [6 copper-plate engraved maps]
n.b.: The pagination for pages 1-68 is highly irregular and includes a number of duplications. The lack of pages 8 and 9 is reflected in another known copy of the work that we were able to investigate.
Provenance
Purple collector's stamp on free endpaper.