1771 Bonne Map of England and Wales

Elegant map of England.

This is a beautiful, bright example of Rigobert Bonne's 1771 map of England and Wales.

A Closer Look

The map embraces England and Wales as well as parts of adjacent Scotland, Ireland, and France. The map is further subdivided by county. Cities, towns, rivers, and lakes are noted throughout. A delicately-etched baroque title cartouche appears in the upper right, decorated on a maritime motif with fish nets, anchors, and a ship in the background.

Publication History and Census

This map was produced for inclusion in Atlas Moderne. The etched cartouche was the work of J. Arrivet.

Cartographers

Rigobert Bonne (October 6, 1727 - September 2, 1794) was one of the most important French cartographers of the late 18th century. Bonne was born in Ardennes à Raucourt, France. He taught himself mathematics and by eighteen was a working engineer. During the War of the Austrian Succession (1740 - 1748), he served as a military engineer at Berg-op-Zoom. In the subsequent years, Bonne became one of the most respected masters of mathematics, physics, and geography in Paris. In 1773, Bonne succeeded Jacques-Nicolas Bellin as Royal Cartographer to France in the office of the Hydrographer at the Depôt de la Marine. Working in his official capacity, Bonne compiled some of the most detailed and accurate maps of the period, most on an equal-area projection known erroneously as the 'Bonne Projection.' Bonne's work represents an important step in the evolution of the cartographic ideology away from the decorative work of the 17th and early 18th century towards a more scientific and practical aesthetic. While mostly focusing on coastal regions, the work of Bonne is highly regarded for its detail, historical importance, and overall aesthetic appeal. Bonne died of edema in 1794, but his son Charles-Marie Rigobert Bonne continued to publish his work well after his death.   Further Details...

Jean Lattré (170x - 178x) was a Paris based bookseller, engraver, globe maker, calligrapher, and map publisher active in the mid to late 18th century. Lattré published a large corpus of maps, globes, and atlases in conjunction with a number of other important French cartographic figures, including Janvier, Zannoni, Bonne and Delamarche. He is also known to have worked with other European cartographers such as William Faden of London and the Italian cartographer Santini. Map piracy and copyright violations were common in 18th century France. Paris court records indicate that Lattré brought charges against several other period map publishers, including fellow Frenchman Desnos and the Italian map engraver Zannoni, both of whom he accused of copying his work. Lattré likes trained his wife Madame Lattré (né Vérard), as an engraver, as a late 18th century trade card promotes the world of 'Lattré et son Epouse.' Lattré's offices and bookshop were located at 20 rue St. Jaques, Paris, France. Later in life he relocated to Bordeaux.   Further Details...

J. Arrivet (fl. c. 1737 - 1780) was a French engraver/ etcher active in Paris in the late 18th century. He produced work for Robert de Vaugondy, Bellin, Bonne, Lattre, and others. It is possible that he was the same 'Arrivet' who engraved the content for the 1737 Hydrographie Française. He never signed his first name, or initial, but Bénézit assigned to him the first initial 'J', almost certainly Jacques or Jean. He is not the engraver Pierre-Nicolas Arrivet (1766 -????), but may be a relation.   Further Details...

Source

Lattre, Jean, Atlas Moderne ou Collection de Cartes sur Toutes les Parties du Globe Terrestre, (Paris) c. 1778.    

Condition

Excellent. Original outline and wash color.

References

Rumsey 2612.040. Phillips (Atlases) 664. National Maritime Museum, 215. British Library (World), col. 384-385 (1762-1785 eds.).