Description
First edition of the description of the British Isles by Bellin,
complete with its 5 beautiful maps,
contemporary binding in morocco with dentelle
with the coat of arms of François-Marie Peirenc de Moras.
From the libraries of François-Marie Peirenc de Moras
and Mortimer Schiff, with ex-libris.
VENDU
Bellin, Jacques Nicolas. Essai géographique sur les Isles Britanniques contenant une Description de l’Angleterre, l’Ecosse et l’Irlande, Tant pour la Navigation des Costes que pour la connoissance de l’interieur du Pais.
Paris, Didot, 1757.
4to [255 x 194 mm] of (4) ll., 471 pp. 2 engraved titles and 5 maps of which 2 are folding, enhanced with contemporary colors.
Red morocco. Contemporary armorial binding.
First edition of this reference geography book dedicated by one of the greatest French cartographers to the description of the British Isles.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was appointed hydrograph of the ministère de la Marine in 1720 following the creation of the Office hydrographique français et du Dépôt des cartes et plans de la marine.
First geographic engineer of the navy, Jacques Nicolas Bellin was commissioned by the duke de Choiseul to assemble all of the known maps of the seas and oceans, for the department of vessels.
He used unpublished manuscripts he found in the navy’s maps and plan depot and published journals.
His book gives us a precise indication on the state of our knowledge of the British Isles at the end of Louis XV’s reign.
He gave 994 articles to the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D’Alembert.
His maps on America benefit from an untarnished reputation.
The book is decorated with two engraved titles and 5 very precise maps, out of pagination, drawn by Bellin, of which 2 are folding and enhanced with contemporary colors, several vignettes and tail-pieces executed by Chauffard, Haussard and Cruce.
Precious and beautiful copy, preserved in its contemporary red morocco with dentelle and the coat of arms of François-Marie Peirenc de Moras.
Provenance : François-Marie Peirenc de Moras (coat of arms on covers) and Mortimer Schiff, with ex-libris (n°21, Sotheby’s sale from 23 March 1938).
