Atlas Universel by ROBERT DE VAUGONDY, Gilles & Didier - 1757

Paris: les Auteurs & Boudet, 1757 Engraved title, 108 engraved maps (3 folding 105 double-page), all hand-coloured in outline and mounted on guards, each map with original stencilled title on the verso, uncut. (Occasional browning and creasing, a few small stains). Expertly bound to style in 18th-century diced Russia, covers with gilt borders, spine elaborately gilt in eight compartments, black morocco lettering piece in the second. Provenance: John Wickins (inscription dated 1761 on front pastedown). /// A fine uncut copy of the Robert de Vaugondy's great atlas. /// Gilles and Didier Robert de Vaugondy were descendents of Nicolas Sanson, and their atlas is clearly a continuation of Sanson's great work, "Cartes Générales de Toutes les Parties de Monde" published in 1654 and later enhanced and enlarged by Hubert Jaillot. Of the 108 maps, 12 are of the ancient world and 96 reflect modern geography. The Robert de Vaugondys, following Sanson's example, include maps of the postal routes, roads and canal systems of the European countries but herein they are significantly more accurate. Special attention has been paid to the Far East and to North America where the French explorers made such important strides during the eighteenth century. The maps of the East Indies, China, Japan; the maps of Africa and Egypt; and the maps of North America, Canada, Virginia & Maryland, Colonies Angloises are especially interesting in this atlas because they represent the latest exploration. In particular, California and Australia are represented in truer form. /// Nordenskivld 245; NMM 266; Phillips 619; Sabin 71863 // HEAVY BOOK. SPLENDID! Photo available upon request