1848 Levasseur Map of Senegal, Gambia, and Madagascar

Key sites in the Atlantic Slave Trae.

This is a 1847 Victor Levasseur map of the French colonies of Madagascar, Senegal, and the Gambia. The map captures key sites associated with the Atlantic Slave Trade, including the infamous Gorée.

A Closer Look

The map is divided into two sections: Madagascar and Senegambia. Senegambia features a close-up of the Senegal River and St. Louis Island. It also includes a depiction of the Island of Gorée off the coast. (The Island of Gorée was the largest slave-trading center from the 15th to the 19th century, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.) The Madagascar section illustrates the entire island in relation to the coast of Africa and features an inset of the eastern coast. The whole is surrounded by elaborate decorative engravings designed to illustrate both the natural beauty and trade richness of these regions. A short textual history of the regions depicted appears on both the left and right sides of the map.

Publication History and Census

This map was published by Victor Levasseur, illustrated by Raymond Bonheur, engraved by Laguillermie, and printed by Lemercier for publication in the 1847 edition of Levasseur's Atlas National Illustré des 86 Departements et des Possessions de La France Divise par Arrondissements, Cantons et Commune avec La Trace de Toutes Les Routes, Chemins, de fer et Canaux. The separate map and atlas are well represented in institutional collections in various editions. Levasseur first published the Atlas National Illustré in 1845 with subsequent updated editions following through at least 1859.

Cartographers

Victor Levasseur (1800 - 1870), an important French engineer, cartographer, and engraver of the mid 19th century, held a number of important cartographically related political and educations posts in France. He is most famous for his Atlas National Illustré des 86 Départements et des Possessions de La France, a large decorative atlas of France, including his Planisphere and five important continental maps. Levasseur's maps are distinctive for their wide decorative margins containing elaborate depictions of the scenery, peoples, and trade goods of the areas he mapped. Levasseur maps are also known to offer a wealth of statistical data. Until recently, very few Levasseur Atlases migrated out of France where they were mostly used in public libraries and town halls. His work represents some of the last great decorative atlases of the 19th century.   Further Details...

Frédéric-Guillaume Laguillermie (1805 - 1870) was a Parisian engraver, cartographer, and printmaker best known for his partnership with Victor Levasseur. He was the father of Frédéric-Auguste Laguillermie (March 27, 1841 - December 14, 1934) the famous French painter and etcher.   Further Details...

Oscar-Raymond Bonheur (Raimond Bonheur; March 20, 1796 - March 23, 1849) was a French painter. Bone in Bordeaux, France, Bonheur painted landscapes and portraits. He illustrated many of the beautiful surrounds that illustrate Victor Levasseur's maps in his Atlas National Illustré des 86 Départements et des Possessions de La France. He is best known as the father of renowned French artist Rosa Bonheur, who painted The Horse Fair, which is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.   Further Details...

Rose-Joseph Lemercier (June 29, 1803 - 1887) was a French photographer, lithographer, and printer. One of the most important Parisian lithographers of the 19th century, Lemercier was born in Paris into a family of seventeen children. His father was a basket maker, and he even began working as a basket maker at the age of fifteen, but Lemercier was drawn to lithography and printing and soon entered into an apprenticeship with Langlumé, where he worked from 1822 until 1825. After working for a handful of other printers, Lemercier started his own firm in 1828 at 2, rue Pierre Sarrazin with only one printing press. He subsequently moved a few more times before arriving at 57, rue de Seine, where he founded the printing firm Lemercier and Company. He created the firm Lemercier, Bénard and Company in 1837 with Jean François Bénard. Lemercier bought out Bénard's share in the firm in 1843 and, since his two sons died at a young age, he decided to bring his nephew Alfred into the business beginning in 1862, who would progressively take on more and more responsibility in running the firm. Between 1850 and 1870, Lemercier's firm was the largest lithographic company in Paris. The firm began to decline in prestige in the early 1870s, and, after Lemercier's death in 1887, its descent only quickened. It is unclear when the firm closed, but Alfred directed the firm until his death in 1901.   Further Details...

Source

Levassuer, V., Atlas National Illustré des 86 Departements et des Possessions de La France Divise par Arrondissements, Cantons et Commune avec La Trace de Toutes Les Routes, Chemins,de fer et Canaux, (Paris: Levasseur) 1847.    

Condition

Very good. Closed margin tear professionally repaired on verso.

References

Rumsey 0427.091. Phillips (Atlases) 3003. OCLC 1398352733.