Plan de Paris - Paris

PRINTED ON VELLUM. Large nine panel plan of Paris, if joined height: 52 inches (1321 mm). width: 58 inches (1473 mm). This is the 1856 edition etched by E.Lebel for "la Société des Bibliophiles". 273 Copies were printed on paper, only 13 copies on vellum.
Consisting of 9 panels plus index map, bound in a contemp. half red linen binding. Each panel has in the margin a lovely view etched of a building or street view.
If assembled the plan would show like this.

This map is a reproduction of the important plan originally issued in 1652 by Jacques Gomboust. The artist Gomboust held the position of Ingenieur du Roi and, in that capacity completed a number of important surveys of Paris which eventually evolved into this spectacular map.
Oriented to the east, this map covers Paris from the Bastille to the Tuileries Garden and from St. Lazare to the Pont de Fauxbourg de St. Jacques. This is a geometric delineation of Paris and offers numerous decorative elements, including profile views of all significant Paris buildings. Views of the city itself decorate the upper right and left quadrants. The lower right and left quadrants feature dramatic neoclassical pedestals surmounted by baroque armorial crests. The pedestals themselves contain views of fifteen important Parisian buildings. A textual dedication to King Louis XIV appears to the left of the map. On the right hand side of the map, there are notes in French detailing the construction of the map. Surrounded by a decorative vine motif border.
This map is a seminal cartographic masterpiece that bridges the gap between city plans as views and modern maps. All previous maps of Paris depicted the city as elevated profile views - thus anyone looking at the map might recognize this or that building by is well known appearance from the ground.
While Gomboust retains this feature with regard to Paris' most important structures, for the most part, he creates a modern map, displaying the city as it would appear from directly above. At the time, this was a very impractical way to depict Paris, for the average person would be incapable of interpreting such a presentation. In viewing such a map, some scholars argue, the typical Parisian embraces the "King's View" of the city, and thus embraces his authority.

GOMBOUST Jacques - Plan de Paris - Paris, Société des Bibliophiles, 1856 - in folio de 10 feuillets doubles ; demi percaline rouge à coins, dos lisse muet - Exemplaire sur peau de vélin comprenant les 9 feuilles du plan et un feuillet d'assemblage - Chacune des 9 parties porte dans la marge une remarque montrant les six tourelles de Paris et 3 autres remarques dont l'hôtel de Lauzun - Plan dressé géométriquement en 1649, publié en 1652, et gravé en fac-similé par E. Lebel pour la Société des Bibliophiles. Il n'a été tiré que 13 exemplaires sur vélin, tous pour les membres de la Société dont 2 avec seulement le plan (comme l'est notre exemplaire qui ne contient pas les 7 feuillets de faux titre, titre, liste des membres et texte).