17th c. H/C Map Engraving OBSERVATIONS SUR LES POINTS CARDINAUX. LIGNES, ET CIRCLES DE LA SPHÈRE Buy de Mornas 1761

17th c. H/C Map Engraving OBSERVATIONS SUR LES POINTS CARDINAUX. LIGNES, ET CIRCLES DE LA SPHÈRE Buy de Mornas 1761
17th c. Hand-colored Engraved Double-page World Map Entitled OBSERVATIONS SUR LES POINTS CARDINAUX. LIGNES, ET CIRCLES DE LA SPHÈRE by Claude Buy de Mornas (17XX-1783), 1761 | One of 17 hand-coloured double-page copper-plate terrestrial / celestial engravings published (Paris / 1761) in the first volume of the "Atlas Méthodique et Elémentaire de Géographie et d'Histoire" by Claude Buy de Mornas (1761). They were sold by Buy de Mornas (d. 1783), geographer to Louis XVI, and Louis-Charles Desnos (1725-1805), who ran one of the most important French map and globe making enterprises | Presents astronomical and geographical information with a central double hemisphere map / diagram with copious text in two columns on either side | These engravings were luxury goods, a fact which indicates the wealthy audience at which they were aimed | Very nice copper plate engraving on fine watermarked laid paper; Blank on verso | Approx. Dimensions: 17.75" W x 12" H (45 x 30 cm) | Provenance: Acquired from a prominent British Collection, London, United Kingdom.