France in its 40 General Governments - Brion de la Tour Engraving - 1788

Large original map of France, engraved on copper with hand-coloured outlines, entitled "La France divisée en ses 40 gouvernemens généraux, en y comprenant l'Isle de Corse; avec toutes les principales routes de ce Royaume". It is the work of Brion de la Tour, "Ingénieur Géographe du Roi", and was published in Paris in 1788 "chez les Campion frères, rue St Jacques, à la Ville de Rouen nº 8", with royal privilege.

Brion de la Tour (1743-1803) was engineer and geographer to the King. The map shows the forty general governments of the kingdom with its main roads, and includes Corsica and parts of England, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The large cartouche at left is crowned by the arms of France and accompanied by an allegorical female figure with crown and sceptre.

Medium: Copper engraving (intaglio), with hand-coloured outlines.
Artist / after: Brion de la Tour (1743-1803), engineer and geographer to the King.
Date: 1788.
Source: Paris, Campion frères.
Dimensions: 29.9 x 21.5 in (76 x 54.5 cm).
Condition: Three small pinholes, one visible in the centre of the map; central fold; paper somewhat toned, with some damp staining in the lower part; very narrow margins, trimmed close to the engraved border.