MEXIQUE OU NOUVELLE ESPAGNE
£195
Very attractive map of Central America and California as an Island.
First state of this copper engraved map decorated with a large title cartouche, and vignettes of a raging sea battle in the Pacific and an Indian battle in the region labeled Louisiane. The map covers the southern part of the present United States from the Baja (I. Californie) through Florida and extends south through Central America.
Excellent hand colour
Mint condition
Publication Description De L'Univers Paris 1683
References: McLaughlin #83
code : M4776
Cartographer : Mallet Alain
Date : 1683 Paris
Size : 15*10 cms
availability : Available
Price : £195
Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer.
He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV, became a Sergeant-Major in the artillery and an Inspector of Fortifications. He also served under the King of Portungal, before returning to France, and his appointment to the court of Louis XIV. His military engineering and mathematical background led to his position teaching mathematics at court.
His major publications were Description de L'Univers (1683) in 5 volumes, and Les Travaux de Mars ou l'Art de la Guerre (1684) in 3 volumes.
His Description de L'Universe contains a wide variety of information, including star maps, maps of the ancient and modern world, and a synopsis of the customs, religion and government of the many nations included in his text. It has been suggested that his background as a teacher led to his being concerned with entertaining his readers. This concern manifested itself in the charming harbor scenes and rural landscapes that he included beneath his description of astronomical concepts and diagrams. Mallet himself drew most of the figures that were engraved for this book.
