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Mr. Philip D. Burden
P.O. Box 863,
Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP6 9HD,
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 76 33 13
Email: enquiries@caburden.com
The first and only edition of one of the landmark atlases of the nineteenth century. It is the first atlas of the world made up of maps constructed on a uniform scale throughout. It utilised a modified conical projection known as the Sanson-Flamsteed model and if assembled to form a globe it would have a diameter of 7.75 meters. Not surprisingly only one was ever made up as such, this by the author in a specially designed room in the ‘Etablissement Geographique’ in Brussels.
”Philippe Vandermaelen was born in Brussels in 1795, the son of a rich soap manufacturer. After his father’s death in 1816, he devoted himself to maps and eleven years later produced this quite remarkable atlas. It was totally at his own expense, and like so many innovations in the past it came about through the single-minded efforts of a man who could afford failure … It offered the largest picture of the earth’s surface available in the nineteenth century, thereby giving the lesser known areas such as Australia, South Africa and the West coast of America, all developing countries, a much greater coverage than before. And, perhaps most importantly of all, it was the first atlas to be produced by lithography” (Wardington Catalogue). Koeman III, Vdm 1; NMM 3:179; Phillips, Atlases 749.
”Philippe Vandermaelen was born in Brussels in 1795, the son of a rich soap manufacturer. After his father’s death in 1816, he devoted himself to maps and eleven years later produced this quite remarkable atlas. It was totally at his own expense, and like so many innovations in the past it came about through the single-minded efforts of a man who could afford failure … It offered the largest picture of the earth’s surface available in the nineteenth century, thereby giving the lesser known areas such as Australia, South Africa and the West coast of America, all developing countries, a much greater coverage than before. And, perhaps most importantly of all, it was the first atlas to be produced by lithography” (Wardington Catalogue). Koeman III, Vdm 1; NMM 3:179; Phillips, Atlases 749.
VANDERMAELEN, Philippe
Atlas Universel de Geographie physique, politique, statistique et mineralogique sur l'echelle de 1/1641836 ou d'une ligne par 1900 toises
Brussells, 1827
Folio 6 volumes (550 x 735 mm. each), maps loose in modern half morocco portfolios, spines with gilt lettering on red morocco labels, with original ties.
With text, 6 printed half-titles, 6 titles, dedication, pp. 44. ‘Statistique de l’Europe’. With 7 lithographed index maps, one of comparative heights and 382 maps by Henri Ode, all hand-coloured in outline, some light browning to a few maps, 2 titles stained. All the maps are numbered, as follows: vol. 1, 1–27 + 1 (bis), 1 (ter); vol. 2, 1–110 + 103 (bis); vol. 3, 1–57 + 1 (bis), two no. 5, 18 (bis); vol. 4, 1–76 + 57 (bis); vol. 5, 1–43 + 4 (bis), two no. 16; vol. 6, 1–60. The printed text leaves in this copy are unfolded. Otherwise in good condition.
With text, 6 printed half-titles, 6 titles, dedication, pp. 44. ‘Statistique de l’Europe’. With 7 lithographed index maps, one of comparative heights and 382 maps by Henri Ode, all hand-coloured in outline, some light browning to a few maps, 2 titles stained. All the maps are numbered, as follows: vol. 1, 1–27 + 1 (bis), 1 (ter); vol. 2, 1–110 + 103 (bis); vol. 3, 1–57 + 1 (bis), two no. 5, 18 (bis); vol. 4, 1–76 + 57 (bis); vol. 5, 1–43 + 4 (bis), two no. 16; vol. 6, 1–60. The printed text leaves in this copy are unfolded. Otherwise in good condition.
Stock number: 7580
SOLD