Nouvelle Mappe Monde Dediee Au Progres De Nos Connoissances
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A scarce and finely engraved scientific double hemisphere world map, constructed with the prime meridian through Paris. The hemispheres are rotated on their axis through 45 degrees in order to define one watery, the other land. This effect creates the 'Hemisphere Terrestre' with the countries of the northern hemisphere, Africa and most of South America, while the 'Hemisphere Maritime' shows the East Indies, Australasia and the Pacific, and the southern tip of South America. Not surprisingly, as a consequence of this experiment from France's school of theoretical cartographers, Paris appears "precisement au centre de tous les continents du monde." This unusual projection, based on the work of the French Academie Royale des Sciences, also emphasises the continuity of the continents. This is a theme in keeping with the earlier work by French scientific map-makers, including Philippe Buache, and repeats typical theoretical concepts such as the 'Mer De L'Ouest' and the other fanciful water systems apparent in north-west America. The map was first published in Paris by Julien in 1753. This particular example is a later Italian edition published in Venice by Santini. The map, set within an elaborate framework design, sits above paragraphs of French text explaining the projection. Printed on thick paper with slight evidence of old folds close to the edges, probably where the map was once folded to fit a frame.
region: World Maps |
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