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1853 Coffinières Map of the La Plata Basin: Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
LaPlataBasin-coffinieres-1853It is enough to note the immense migration of people after having drained the old continent turning to the East and the West to arrive in Asia and America. Also, since the beginning of the last century, Spain, England, Portugal, and Brazil argue over possession of the Eastern Band and when, by a marvelous combination of circumstances, the doors are open before us, [and yet] we will refuse to enter!As the quote suggests, despite Coffinières' efforts and frustrations, France, tied down with its colony in Algeria, was unwilling to immediately act.
We are not proposing an unjust and dangerous conquest, far from it! What we want is respect for our flag, to maintain our commitments, open a new outlet for transatlantic commerce, supply our industry, become friends with courageous and kind populations, spread the Christian faith in the new world in the French manner alongside the English, create for our holidays and those of our neighbors a sanctuary for hard-working people of all professions. That's our policy, those are our true interests!
…
In summary, we believe we have demonstrated our ability based on the evidence that our right, our national dignity, our honor, our history, our current interests and our future grandeur compel us to follow, in South America, a firm and grand policy as befits a powerful nation. (Translation: Spencer D. Hunt)
Grégoire-Gaspard-Félix Coffinières de Nordeck (September 3, 1811 - January 7, 1887) was a French military officer active in Europe and in Argentina in the middle part of the 19th century. Coffinières was born in Castelnaudary (Aude), France. He studied at the Paris École Polytechnique and later at the l’École d’application du Génie (Engineering College) at Metz. While in school, in participated in the July Revolution, which overthrew King Charles X in favor of Louis Philippe. After serving in Algeria and Morocco he was sent to Argentina - where the French had developing proto-colonial interests. There, in 1850 (published 1853), he compiled the first deatiled map of the La Plata basin, 'according to the documents collected on the spot and the best partial plans of this region' - a major cartographic achievement. Back in Europe he participated in the Crimean War (1853 - 1856) and the siege of Sébastopol. In 1860, he succeeded General Charles Eblé as head of the École Polytechnique. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 he was put in charge of the defenses of Metz. He is often accused of having surrendered the position without a defense, but passed the accusation fo treason to Francois Achille Bazaine (1811 - 1888). He moved to La réserve militaire in 1876 and retired fully from military life in 1881. Coffinières died in 1887 and is interred in his birth town of Castelnaudary. More by this mapmaker...
Depot de Guerre (1688 - 1887) was a branch of the French military devoted to creating, collecting, and publishing military memoirs, plans, and maps. The Depot was founded in 1688 by Francois Michel le Tellier, the Marquis de Louvois. Louvois held the post of Secretary of State for War under Louis XIV and his best known for composing the first letter regarding the mysterious "Man in the Iron Mask". During the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars the Depot de Guerre expanded its operations to include any and all topographical research in France. In 1887 the Depot de Guerre was disbanded and its duties split between the Institut Geographique National (IGN) and the Service Historique de L'Armee (SHA). Learn More...
Régnier et Dourdet (fl. c. 1840 - 1870) was a French engraving, printing, lithography, and publishing firm active in Paris during the middle to late 19th century. The firm is frequently associated with Lith. Gratia (fl. c. 1864 - 1865), another Paris firm. They were located at 8 Passage Ste. Marie (R. du Bac), Paris. They published a wide corpus of work, but are best known for engraving and publishing the impressive pioneering carto-infographic studies of French civil engineer Charles Joseph Mindard (1781 - 1870). The firm also engraved and printed extensively for the Dépôt de la Guerre. Régnier may have been Claude (1xxx - 1860), a known Paris painter and engraver. Learn More...
N. Gratia (fl. c. 1838 - 1865) was a French lithographic engraver and printer active in the late-middle part of the 19th century. His firm printed as Lithographe Gratia. They are frequently associated with the engraving and publishing firm Régnier et Dourdet (fl. c. 1840 - 1870). From 1848 - 1849 N. Gratia partnered with J. Schwaerzlé, publishing under the imprint 'Gratia et Schwaerzlé'. The firm also engraved and printed extensively for the Dépôt de la Guerre. They offices were located at 9, Esplanade des Invalides. Learn More...
Copyright © 2025 Geographicus Rare Antique Maps | Geographicus Rare Antique Maps
This copy is copyright protected.
Copyright © 2025 Geographicus Rare Antique Maps