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A Zoological Tour de Force -- Presentation Copy, Signed By Perrot

Rare wall map illustrating the distribution of animals on the earth's surface, drawn by Aristide-Michel Perrot and published by  Ch. Albessard et Bérard.

The present example bear a presentation inscription from Perrot to "a Monsieur E. Lebrun hommage la part de l'auteur." (to Mr. E Lebrune, a tribute from the author).

Constructed from the most comprehensive inventories of fauna and flora available at the time, the zoological planisphere drawn by Aristide Michel Perrot represents a remarkable display of the art of data compilation and synthesis.

For aesthetic reasons, the author chose to represent many of the animal species in a figurative manner within its geographic area (with a numeric key identifying each by name), rather than merely drawing the broad biogeographic zones of species distribution, a representation invented by the English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.   

Arthropods and mollusks are not depicted on this planisphere, whereas mammals, being better known and more extensively studied, predominate.

Far beyond its aesthetic dimension, this planisphere is a true testament to the biodiversity of the mid-19th century, documenting species that are now extinct. It remains a valuable research tool for scientists.

The note at the bottom left translates as follows:

This Map is intended to indicate and represent each type of Animal in the region that can be considered its homeland, so domesticated beings that have been transported and naturalized from one country to another have not been included. The limited size allowed for the figures made this task very difficult. While the larger animals and those more generally known are perfectly distinguishable, the same cannot be said for smaller species and rare ones whose forms are less graspable and less familiar, such as, for example, the animals of New Holland. Therefore, it was deemed essential to indicate their names by numbers that correspond to the table below.

A second note at bottom center states:

As it was impossible to give the figures enough development for them to indicate the Species, the majority can only express the Genus, like the genus Rats, which contains a large number of species is almost represented only by a single sign. The same is true for Deer, Antelopes, Oxen, etc. The Class of Mammals is the most completely depicted, but the countless classes of Birds, Reptiles, and Fish are only represented by the most important Genera.

Rarity

The map is very rare.

OCLC locates 2 examples:  Bibliotheque National de France and Paris Natural History Museum.