EASTERN UNITED STATES 1783 BRION DE LA TOUR & DESNOS UNUSUAL ANTIQUE ORIGINALMAP

Carte des Etats-Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale, dressée d'après les Cartes Anglaises;  Par M. Brion Ingénieur Géographe du Roi. A Paris Chez le Sr. Desnos Ingénieur-Géographede Sa Majesté Danoise, rue St. Jacques, au Globe.
                                    

Description: Striking and highly detailed fine unusual 1783 Louis Charles Desnos & Louis Brion de la Tour's copper engraved map depicting the United States as it was perceived in the late 18th century. The relief is pictorially represented, using shading and contour lines to indicate changes in elevation.
 
Historical and Cartographic Context:
 
The Authors: The map was drawn by Louis Brion de la Tour (1743–1803), the celebrated engineer-geographer to the King of France, and printed by the renowned Parisian publisher Louis-Charles Desnos.
 
A Pioneering Document: This copperplate engraving represents one of the very first European maps to officially use the designation "Etats-Unis" (United States), printed in the very year of the Treaty of Paris (1783), which formally established the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain.
 
Style and Subject:
 
The map reflects the cartographic style of the late Enlightenment, characterized by meticulous detail and decorative elements. It outlines the eastern portion of North America, highlighting the newly formed United States along with several geographic and political features. The map is notable for its inclusion of territories such as the "Six Nations County" and other Native American lands, demonstrating the complexity and diversity of the region during that period.
 
Cultural and Historical Context:
 
Created shortly after the American Revolutionary War, the map represents a significant period in American history, when the United States was defining its identity and borders. The use of French in the map's inscriptions underscores the international interest and involvement in North American affairs during that era. The map's creation in Paris reflects European fascination with the New World and the geopolitical changes following the independence of the American colonies.
 
Key Features:
 
- Geographic Details: The map includes rivers, mountain ranges, and coastal details, offering insights into the geographical understanding of the time.
 
- Territorial Delimitations: The delineation of various territories, including Native American lands, highlights the complex interactions and boundaries present in 18th-century North America.
 
Significance:
 
This map is a valuable historical artifact that offers insights into early American geography and international perspectives on the nascent United States. It reflects both the growing knowledge of American geography in Europe and the artistic and technical skills of 18th-century cartographers.
 
Atlas Context:
 
The map is part of an atlas, which includes a series of detailed maps and an index of towns and cities. The atlas was intended for educational purposes, to facilitate the study of geography and history. It is bound in dark brown calfskin with marbled boards and elaborately gilded trim, a testament to its value and use as a scholarly resource.

Date: 1783 ( undated )

Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 34,2 x 26,7

Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains. Map old original colored. Map heavy browned. Conditions are as you can see in the images.

Mapmakers: Louis Brion de la Tour (1743 - 1803) was the Cartographer Royal to the King of France, his official title being Ingenieur-Geographe du Roi, Despite a prolific cartographic career and several important atlases to his name, little is actually known of his life and career. He mat have been born in Bordeaux. His son of the same name was born in 1763 and published until his death in 1832. It is nearly impossible to distinguish the work of the father, from the work of the son, as both used the same imprint and were active in roughly the same period. Much of their work was published in partnership Louis Charles Desnos (fl. 1750 - 1790). Their most notable work is generally regarded to be his 1766 Atlas General.

Louis Charles  Desnos (1725 - April 18, 1805) was an important 18th century instrument maker, cartographer and globe maker based in Paris, France. Desnos was born in Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Oise, France, the son of a cloth merchant. From April of 1745 he apprenticed at a metal foundry. Desnos married the widow of Nicolas Hardy, sone of the map, globe, and instrument seller Jacques Hardy. Desnos held the coveted position of Royal Globemaker to the King of Denmark, Christian VII, for which he received a stipend of 500 Livres annually. In return Desnos sent the King roughly 200 Livres worth of maps, books and atlases each year. As a publisher, Desnos produced a substantial corpus of work and is often associated with Zannoni and Louis Brion de la Tour (1756-1823). Despite or perhaps because of the sheer quantity of maps Desnos published he acquired a poor reputation among serious cartographic experts, who considered him undiscerning and unscrupulous regarding what he would and would not publish. Desnos consequently had a long history of legal battles with other Parisian cartographers and publishers of the period. It is said that he published everything set before him without regard to accuracy, veracity, or copyright law. Desnos maintained offices on Rue St. Jacques, Paris.