Sarthe Department map. Levasseur decorative map of Le Mans region c1859

$245.00

Dept. de la Sarthe antique map. Carte Ancienne de Geographie de Departement. The north-west France Department of Sarthe is in the Pays de la Loire region of Le Mans, the location of the great endurance sports car road-race. The capital city is Le Mans, and other important centres are La Fleche and Mamers.

Original steel-engraved map with its geography surrounded by a superbly engraved narrative of the region, with illustrations of produce,commerce, industry, local landmarks, peasants in regional dress,historically important personage, coats of arms, and scrolls containing statistical information. Geographer Victor Levasseur established his reputation as a mapmaker between 1838 and 1854 with this series of maps for one of the most decorative atlases ever published, Atlas National Illustre (Illustrated National Atlas) published in Paris circa 1859.

The outlining within the map is contemporary (from the time of publication). The beautiful hand-colour to the heavily engraved decoration (not showing well in this scan) is of a later date, but certainly makes this a stunning map.

With wide borders, its size is approximately 36 x 54cm (14 x 21 inches).