1795 Mentelle and Chanlaire Map of the West Indies

Description

1795 Mentelle and Chanlaire Map of the West Indies
WE SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MAPS - NOT REPRODUCTIONS
Title:
Carte du Golfe du Mexique et des Isles Antilles.
Description:
This is a strikingly engraved c. 1795 Edme Mentelle and Pierre-Gilles Chanlaire map of the West Indies that is notably printed on high quality light French Revolution blue handkerchief paper, which briefly appeared during the French Revolution. The map depicts the region from Central America to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Gulf Coast of the United States to northern South America. Beautifully engraved, myriad locations throughout the region are labeled, including islands, archipelagos, and points and capes along the islands' coastlines. New Orleans and St. Augustine are labeled in the southern United States, along with Charleston (Charles Town) and numerous rivers. Regions in New Spain (Nouvelle Espagne) are labeled, as are towns, lakes, and mountains.
French Revolution Blue Handkerchief Paper
It is of note that this map was printed on rare French Revolution Era blue-tinged paper. Typically, papermakers would travel through town with large carts yelling 'bring out your rags!' These scrap rags would then be ground up, pulped, and used to make paper. During the French Revolution, the overthrow of the nobility resulted in an uncannily high percentage of fine white handkerchiefs and table linens being gathered up and turned into paper. The iodine in the linens reacted with the starch glues used to make the paper to cause the slight blue tinge. Today maps produced from French Revolution blue paper are highly desirable.
This map was engraved by Pierre Francois Tardieu and P.J. Valet and published by Edme Mentelle and Pierre-Gilles Chanlaire c. 1795.
Size:
Printed area measures 14 inches high by 18 inches wide.
Condition:
Very good. Even overall toning. Printed on French Revolution blue handkerchief paper. Blank on verso.
Shipping:
Shipping rates are not negotiable. Items are shipped within three business days of receiving payment. We are happy to consolidate shipping where possible. The following shipping options are available:
1. FedEx Overnight (45 USD). USA Only. Signature Required.
2. FedEx Ground or Home Delivery (15 USD). USA Only. 1 - 10 days. If your address is a P.O. Box and cannot ship FedEx we will ship USPS Priority and, while we ship promptly, recent postal personnel cutbacks mean that delivery may take time. Signature Required.
3. FedEx International or DHL International EXPRESS (45 USD).
4. We can use your FedEx Account.
Customs:
International buyers are responsible for paying duty and taxes on delivery. DHL or FedEx will contact the buyer by telephone to arrange tax payment if it is levied. Duty varies by country and we cannot predict the amount you will be charged. Some countries are duty free, others are not. Typically, a customs duty and/or VAT tax will be assessed on all parcels to continental Europe. Sometimes duty or tax is due in China, but is seems very random. Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan have never assessed duty on a map we shipped. Maps shipped to the UK should be duty free as educational materials, but from time to time duty of 5% is assessed incorrectly by the UK customs agents.
Insurance:
All shipments are insured privately against loss and damage. All of our shipments require a signature for insurance purposes.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us through eBay.
Other Services
Conservation Framing:
Geographicus recommends basic conservation framing services for any antique paper. We do not offer this service.
Antique Map Restoration:
Geographicus can repair and restore your antique map. Services include deacidification cleaning flattening and backing.
BEWARE anyone attempting to contact you, from a different eBay account, claiming to represent Geographicus Antique Maps. My eBay handle is GeographicusMaps. If you are contacted by email by someone offering you my items, please call me directly to be certain you are not dealing with a con artist.
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