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BELLIN, Jacques Nicolas : Essai Geographique sur les Isles Britanniques contenant une Description de l’Angleterre l’Ecosse, et l’Irelande

de l’Imprimerie de Didot, Paris, 1757

Quarto (255 x 195 mm.), full contemporary French mottled calf, gilt ruled, with central gilt Royal arms of Louis XV and gilt arms of the library of Versailles on both boards, rebacked, preserving the original ribbed spine with ornate floral gilt decoration, calf gilt titled label., marbled endpapers. With engraved title page, typographic title page bearing engraved vignette view of Cambridge, pp. (6), 471 with 5 maps in early outline colour and 36 vignette plans, maps and views in total set within the text. Royal Library stamp to title, Ireland inserted, one or two fox marks, otherwise in good condition.

Jacques Bellin (1703-72) was Hydrographer in the French Dépôt de la Marine. With access to the latest navigational reports, he produced a great many maps and charts of excellent quality. The French government commissioned Bellin to translate a large section of Greenville Collin’s 'Coasting Pilot' for the use of French seamen. The atlas consisted of 19 charts, the text was issued separately in this work entitled 'Essai Géographique sur les Isles Britanniques' in the same year 1757. These uncommon works of the British Isles were issued at the outbreak of the Seven Years War between Britain and France. There are five maps of the British Isles, England, Scotland, Ireland and the Gulf of Edinburgh. The book also contains 36 vignette views, town and harbour plans engraved in remarkably fine detail. The plan of London on page 4 is not listed in Darlington and Howgego’s study of London plans. A second edition of the text was issued in Paris by Nyon Libraire, Imprimerie de Moreau in 1759. Provenance: Beeleigh Abbey Books, Catalogue BA56 item 3, June 1995; Rodney Shirley collection. Bonar-Law 'Ireland' no. 87; Cohen-de Ricci p. 129; Cox Travel III p. 92.

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