Map, India, Malabar Coromandel, Guillaume Delisle, Antique Print, Paris, 1723

Description

There is a Baroque cartouche lower right, framing the full title and dedication to King Louis XV of France, with publication credits below it. Above the Maldives are five distance scales, showing distances between France and Germany to India and between the Malabar and Coromandel Coasts. There is a pair of compass roses, one on each side of the map, with notes about magnetic variation. The map is surrounded by a graduated longitude and latitude scale, and a light grid of longitude and latitude lines crosses the map.

Guillaume Delisle, appointed Royal Geographer in 1718, was the leading French cartographer of the early 18th century, and certainly among the most influential. He was known for his prolific output — over 100 maps — and his exceptional accuracy. From his first atlas, published at age 25, Delisle made an effort, unprecedented in his era, to base his work on verifiable, current data and to correct prevalent fallacies, such as the depiction of California as an island. His maps and atlases were frequently reissued after his death by Philippe Buache, Phillippe’s nephew Jean Nicolas Buache, and J.A. Dezauche. The Amsterdam publishers Covens and Mortier also reissued Delisle maps in the 18th Century. In addition, Delisle maps served as inspiration for derivatives by the German cartographers Jeremias Wolff and Matthäus Seutter.

Distance scale captions:

Lieues communes de France de 25 au degré.
Lieues marines de France de 20 au degré.
Milles ou Lieues d’Allegmagne de 15 au degré.
Cosses ou Lieues communes des Indes de 40 au degré.
Gos ou Lieues de Malabar et Coromandel de 10 au degré.

[Common leagues of France from 25 to the degree.
Nautical leagues of France from 20 to the degree.
Miles or Leagues of Germany from 15 to the degree.
Pods or Common Leagues of the Indies of 40 to the degree.
Gos or Leagues of Malabar and Coromandel of 10 to the degree.]

Full publication information: Presentée au Roy. Par son tres humble, tres obeissant et tres fidele sujet, G. Delisle. A Paris, chez l’Auteur G. Delisle Premier Geographe de Sa Majesté, de l’Academie R’le. de’ Sciences, sur le Quay de l’Horloge. Av. Pr. 1723. Marin Sculpsit.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, handling.  Center vertical fold as issued.

References:

Tooley, Mapping of America p.1-28.; Martin & Martin, 14 & 19; Wheat 99; Cumming 170.