1852 Vuillemin Map of Spain and Portugal
Description: An uncommon and extremely attractive 1852 map of Iberia or Spain and Portugal by A. Vuillemin. The map covers all of Spain and Portugal from France to the Mediterranean Sea and includes the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Majorca, and Minorca. Throughout, the map identifies various cities, towns, rivers and assortment of additional topographical details. As this map was drawn the Spanish prime minister Juan Bravo Murillo was dismissed form office . Liberal sentiments within Spain were growing rapidly, leading to the Progressive Biennium, in which the Progressive Party tried to replace the conservative liberalism of the Moderate Party and advocated radical liberalism. The map features a beautiful frame style border. Prepared by A. Vuillemin for publication as plate no. 16 in the 1852 Maison Basset edition of Atlas Illustre Destine a l'enseignement de la Geographie elementaire.
Date: 1852 (undated)
Source: Barbie du Bocage, J. D., Atlas Illustre Destine a l'Enseignement de la Geographie Elementaire, (Paris: Maison Basset) 1852.
Cartographer: Alexandre Vuillemin (1812-1880) was a cartographer and an book editor based in Paris, France. Despite a prolific cartographic career, much of Vuillemin's life is shrouded in mystery. What is known is that his studied under the prominent French Auguste Henri Dufour (1798-1865). Vuillemin's most important work his detailed, highly decorative large format Atlas Illustre de Geographie Commerciale et Industrielle. Click here for a list of rare maps from Alexandre Vuillemin.
Cartographer: Jean Denis Barbie du Bocage (1760 - 1825) and his son Jean-Guillaume Barbie du Bocage (1795 - 1848) were French cartographers and cosmographers active in Paris during late 18th and early 19th centuries. The elder Barbie du Bocage, Jean Denis, was trained as a cartographer and engraver in the workshops of mapmaking legend J. B. B. d'Anville. At some point Jean Denis held the post of Royal Librarian of France and it was through is associations with d'Anville that the d'Anville collection of nearly 9000 maps was acquired by French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The younger Barbie du Bocage, Jean-Guillaume, acquired a position shortly afterwards at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, in time, became its head, with the title of Geographe du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. Click here for a list of rare maps by the Barbie du Bocage family.
Size: Printed area measures 13 in height x 10 inches in width (33.02 x 25.4 centimeters)
Condition: Very good. Blank on verso. Map exhibits some soiling and toning, especially to margins.
Code: SpainPortugal-vuillemin-1852 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)
© Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, Kevin Brown, 22/5/2013