Carte des Déclinaisons et Inclinaisons de l'Aiguille Aimantée, Rédigée d'après la Table des Observations Magnétiques faites par les Voyageurs depuis l'Année 1775
[Paris, F. Dufart? circa 1790].
A hand-coloured engraved map (printed surface 378× 415 mm, sheet size approximately 420 × 540 mm). 'Gravée par Tardieu l'Ainé ... Dessiné par Poirson ... Ecrit par Beaublé'.
Original folds, as issued; some minor uneven tanning; in very good condition.
An uncommon chart of the Pacific Ocean and Australia showing magnetic variation and dip, drawing on observations made in the course of Pacific voyages after 1775, most notably Cook's third voyage. It is most likely from a duodecimo edition of Buffon's 'Histoire naturelle générale et particulière' around the end of the eighteenth century ('PL. III. Tome XVI' and 'Page 58' are printed in the top margin). It is based on a larger chart in four sheets (attributed to Jean-Charles de Borda). The engraver Tardieu is one of half a dozen members of the family working as engravers at the period, one of whom (P.A.F. Tardieu) would engrave the charts published in the official account of the Baudin voyage.
Item #143934
Price (AUD):
$1,200.00