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1833 Malte-Brun Map of France
France-maltebrun-1837$100.00
Title
France.
1833 (dated) 13 x 18 in (33.02 x 45.72 cm)
1833 (dated) 13 x 18 in (33.02 x 45.72 cm)
Description
This is a fine example of Conrad Malte-Brun's 1833 map of France. The map covers France divided according to its constituent departments. An inset in the lower right quadrant details the island of Corsica while the inset on the upper right quadrant focuses on Paris.
The French Department system was established on March 4th, 1790 by the National Constituent Assembly to replace the provinces with what the Assembly deemed a more rational political structure. The new department system was intended to deliberately break up France's historical regions in an attempt to erase cultural differences and build a more homogeneous nation. Initially there were 83 departments but by 1800 that number increased to roughly 130. Many of the departments that were created in 1790 remain the administrative districts to this day.
Various cities, towns, rivers, lakes and other topographical details are marked, with relief shown by hachures. Boundaries are outlined with color according to departments and territories. This map was issued as plate no. 32 in Conrad Malte-Brun's 1837 Atlas Complet du Precis de la Geographie Universelle.
The French Department system was established on March 4th, 1790 by the National Constituent Assembly to replace the provinces with what the Assembly deemed a more rational political structure. The new department system was intended to deliberately break up France's historical regions in an attempt to erase cultural differences and build a more homogeneous nation. Initially there were 83 departments but by 1800 that number increased to roughly 130. Many of the departments that were created in 1790 remain the administrative districts to this day.
Various cities, towns, rivers, lakes and other topographical details are marked, with relief shown by hachures. Boundaries are outlined with color according to departments and territories. This map was issued as plate no. 32 in Conrad Malte-Brun's 1837 Atlas Complet du Precis de la Geographie Universelle.
Cartographer
Conrad Malte-Brun (August 12, 1755 - December 14, 1826) was an important late 18th and early 19th century Danish / French cartographer and revolutionary. Conrad was born in Thisted, Denmark. His parents encouraged him to a career in the Church, but he instead enrolled in the University of Copenhagen. In the liberal hall of academia Conrad became an ardent supporter of of the French Revolution and the ideals of a free press. Despite the harsh censorship laws of crown prince Frederick VI, Malte-Brun published numerous pamphlets criticizing the Danish government. He was finally charged with defying censorship laws in 1799 and forced to flee to Sweden and ultimately France. Along with colleague Edme Mentelle, Malte-Brun published his first cartographic work, the Géographie mathématique, physique et politique de toutes les parties du monde (6 vols., published between 1803 and 1807). Conrad went on to found Les Annales des Voyages (in 1807) and Les Annales des Voyages, de la Géographie et de l'Histoire (in 1819). He also founded the Paris Société de Géographie . In time, Conrad Malte-Brun became known as one of the finest French cartographers of his time. His son Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun (1816 - July 13, 1889) followed in his footsteps, republishing many of Conrad's original 18th century maps as well as producing numerous maps of his own. The Malte-Brun firm operated well into the 1880s. More by this mapmaker...
Source
Malte-Brun, Atlas Complet du Precis de la Geographie Universelle, (Paris) 1837.
Condition
Very good. Original centerfold. Minor verso repair at centerfold. Blank on verso.
References
Rumsey 0458.032 (1832 edition). Phillips (Atlases) 6079.