Original Antique World Map with beautiful hand coloring

Antique map titled 'Mappemonde ou Description du Globe Terrestre'. This world map by Robert de Vaugondy was one of the most advanced of its day. In a move that was characteristic of French scientific cartography, the unknown areas were left blank, rather than invented. See, for example, the incomplete coastlines of Australia and North America.

Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) and his son Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786) were leading cartographers in France during the 18th century. They served both as geographer to the king of France. The father, Gilles is also known as ‘Le Sieur’ or ‘Monsieur Robert’. He descended from the Nicolas Sanson family through Sanson's grandson Pierre Moulard-Sanson, from whom he inherited Sanson's cartographic material. After Hubert Jaillot died in 1712, the de Vaugondy's acquired numerous copies of his maps and plates, which formed the basis of their beautiful Atlas Universel (1757). Their business flourished from 1731 to 1778. They made a substantial contribution to the world of cartography.

Condition: Good. Partly contemporary coloring. Some small wormholes and repairs. Please study image carefully.

Date: 1743

Overall size: 77.5 x 54.3 cm.