Partie Occidentale de L'Empire de Russie

Detailed map of the western part of the Russian Empire, north of the Black & Caspian Seas, Nova Zembla and including most of Finland.
Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688 - 1766),also known as “Le Sieur” or “Monsieur Robert” and Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786) were map publishers, engravers, and cartographers active in Paris during the mid 1700’S. The father and son team are descended from the famous Sanson cartographic firm, from whom they inherited much of their initial material. The Vaugondys were well respected for the detail and accuracy of their maps. The Vaugondys compiled their maps based upon their own superior geographic knowledge, scholarly research, the journals of contemporary explorers and missionaries, and direct astronomical observation. Many Vaugondy maps are also highly praised for their title cartouches, which identify each of the sources referenced - an unusual level of scholar decorum for 18th century France.
Their most important work is the beautifully produced “Atlas Universel” (1757) in which there was an intergration of older sources with more modern surveyed maps. In addition, the older material was revised with the addition of many new place names. In 1760, Didier Robert de Vaugondy was appointed geographer to King Louis XV. The official French repository for maritime-related information, were used for their maps of Canada and South America.