1793 Dezauche Catalog of All Maps Published by His Firm (Jaillot, Buache, Delisle)

This is a 1793 Jean-Claude Dezauche catalog of maps published at the height of the French Revolution. The 44-page catalog advertises the cartographic work of the Dezauche firm while lamenting the difficulties of producing such work in the midst of that period of intense social and political turmoil. The catalog thus offers a unique insight into the world of cartography during one of Europe's most turbulent periods.

Dezauche Addresses the Elephant in the Room

Dezauche begins with an Opinion (Avis) in which he describes the difficulties of publishing during the French Revolution and ever-rising prices.

[The circumstances where we find ourselves required a considerable increase in all manufactured objects employed in the creation of Geographic Maps; the excessive price of paper, engraving, printing, illumination, and generally all hand-made objects; their violent daily increase has kept me from, as I am used to doing, from putting prices on the pieces in this Catalog. This circumstance is even more disagreeable to me since the public has been guaranteed that in my establishment, the most well known and respected there is, that there would always be only one price, which would be unchanging. All one needed was to review my Catalog to know that this or that Piece absolutely would not cost more than the indicated price: but I am, just as everyone else, obligated to surrender to circumstances.

Nevertheless, one can be assured that, in my establishment, we will not abuse the absence of prices; that all the items will never be sold except at the price necessitated by the times, and that we will not take advantage of these already too difficult circumstances that we are subject to to ridiculously increase the prices on our items and thus gain an illicit benefit that could be hidden by the current circumstances.

Those who want to know prices for items they would like to procure can address themselves to me; prices will be given to them without any difficulty. They can count on those prices as long as the items are purchased around the same time; if there is a delay, changes are possible.

One can be assured that as soon as manufactured and handcrafted items reduce in price the same reduction will be reflected on the items in this Catalog.]

Les circonstances où nous nous trouvons, ayant nécessité l'augmentation considerable de tous les objets manufacturés employés dans la confection des Cartes Géographique; le prix excessif du papier, de la gravure, de l'impression, de l'enluminure, et généralement de tous les objets de main-d'ouevre; leur augmentation violente et jounalière, m'ont empêché, ainsi que j'etois dans l'usage de le faire, de mettre le prix à chacun des articles portés sur ce Catalogue. Cette circonstance est d'autant plus désagréable pour moi, qu l'on étoit assure que dans ma maison, la plus connue et une des plus estimée qu'il y ait, il n'y avoit jamais qu'un seul prix, lequel étoit invariable. Il suffisoit de prendre mon Catalogue, pour savoir que tel ou tel Ouvrage ne coûteroit absolument que le prix indiqué: mais he suis, ainsi que tout le monde, oblige de céder aux circonstances.

L'on peut cependent être assuré que, chez moi, l'on n'abusera pas de l'absence de ces prix; que tous les articles ne seront jamais vendus qu'au prix nécessité par le cours du jour, et que l'on ne profitera pas des circonstances déjà trops fâcheuses où nous sommes réduits, pour augmenter ridiculement chacun de ces articles, à l'effet de se procurer un benefice illicite que les circonstances pourroient chacer.

Les personnes qui désireroient savoir le prix du jour pour les articles qu'elles voudroient se procurer, peuvent s'adresser chez moi; ces prix leur seront donnés exactement et sans aucune difficulté. Elles pourront y coompter, pourvu que leur acquisition se trouve effectuée à-peu-près à la même époque; car si elles tardoient, il pourroit y avoir des changements.

L'on peut être assure que, lorsque tous les objets manufacturés et de main-d'œuvre éprouveront quelques diminutions, il en sera fait une dans la même progression sur chacun des articles de ce Catalogue.

A Closer Look

Dezauche divides the catalog geographically, with each section identified by the country or theme. For example, Dezauche lists general maps then regional maps. He then moves on to Asia, Africa, and the Americas, ancient geography, rivers, canals, celestial maps, military maps, and even atlases and globes. He also separates works published by D'Anville from those by Delisle and Buache. At then, a final title is added in manuscript, likely in Dezauche's own hand: Guide des Couriers, ou itinéraire utileà tous les Voyageurs.

The French Revolution and Geography

The new French political establishment during the French Revolution is reflected here. In 1790, the National Assembly laid down new political divisions, départements, intended to replace the Ancien Régime provincial system. Dezauche divides his maps of France into two sections, one for Departments and another for Provinces.

Publication History and Census

This catalog was published by Jean-Claude Dezauche in Paris, France, in 1793, from his establishment on the Rue des Noyers in Paris. The Rue des Noyers no longer exists, as it was demolished to make way for the construction of the Boulevard Saint-Germain. We note a single cataloged example, located at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.