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Guillaume De L'Isle (1675-1726) is probably the greatest figure in French cartography. Having learned geography from his father Claude, by the age of eight or nine he could draw maps to demonstrate ancient history.  He studied mathematics and astronomy under Cassini, from whom he received a superb grounding in scientific cartography—the hallmark of his work. His first atlas was published in ca. 1700. In 1702 he was elected a member of the Academie Royale des Sciences and in 1718 he became Premier Geographe du Roi

De L'Isle's work was important as marking a transition from the maps of the Dutch school, which were highly decorative and artistically-orientated, to a more scientific approach. He reduced the importance given to the decorative elements in maps, and emphasized the scientific base on which they were constructed. His maps of the newly explored parts of the world reflect the most up-to-date information available and did not contain fanciful detail in the absence of solid information. It can be fairly said that he was truly the father of the modern school of cartography at the commercial level. 

De L’Isle also played a prominent part in the recalculation of latitude and longitude, based on the most recent celestial observations. His major contribution was in collating and incorporating this latitudinal and longitudinal information in his maps, setting a new standard of accuracy, quickly followed by many of his contemporaries. Guillaume De L’Isle’s work was widely copied by other mapmakers of the period, including Chatelain, Covens & Mortier, and Albrizzi.

Place/Date:
Paris / 1704 (1745 circa)
Size:
25 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
89124
Place/Date:
Paris / 1708
Size:
24.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
64247op
Place/Date:
/ 1708
Size:
25.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
89567
Place/Date:
Paris / 1710
Size:
24.25 x 19 inches
Condition:
Good
Stock#:
82020
Place/Date:
Paris / 1711
Size:
24.5 x 18 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
82016
Place/Date:
Paris / 1722 (1745)
Size:
23.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
55883
Place/Date:
Paris / 1745
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
77390

Archived

Place/Date:
Paris / 1700 (1708)
Size:
26 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
32072
Place/Date:
Paris / 1700 (1708)
Size:
26 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
45982
Place/Date:
Paris / 1700
Size:
22.5 x 16.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
52364
Place/Date:
Paris / 1700 (1708)
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
57675
Place/Date:
Paris / 1700
Size:
23 x 18 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
74655
Place/Date:
Paris / 1700
Size:
25.5 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
93424
Place/Date:
Paris / 1701
Size:
25 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24508
Place/Date:
Paris / 1701
Size:
24.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
64308op
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703
Size:
24.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17394
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703 (1745)
Size:
25.5 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
30418
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703
Size:
25.5 x 19.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
35602sb
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703 (1708)
Size:
25.5 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
38882
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703 (1745)
Size:
25.5 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
40538
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703 (1708)
Size:
25.5 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
42950
Place/Date:
Paris / 1703 (1718)
Size:
25.5 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
44291