Cartographer : - Prevost, Antoine François d Exiles 1697 – 1763

• Date: - 1755
• Size: - 10in x 7 1/2in (255mm x 190mm)
• Ref#: - 92048
• Condition: - (A+) Fine Condition

Description:
This fine, original copper-plate engraved antique print by Jakob van Schley in 1755 was published in Antoine François Prevosts 15 volumes of Histoire Generale des Voyages written by Prevost & other authors between 1746-1789.

General Definitions:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color : - off white
Age of map color: - Early
Colors used: - Yellow, green, brown
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 10in x 7 1/2in (255mm x 190mm)
Plate size: - 10in x 7 1/2in (255mm x 190mm)
Margins: - Min 1/2in (12mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None

Background:
The Kalmyks are the Oirats in Russia, whose ancestors migrated from Dzungaria in 1607. They created the Kalmyk Khanate in 1630–1724 in Russia\'s North Caucasus territory. Today they form a majority in the autonomous republic of Kalmykia on the western shore of the Caspian Sea.
Through emigration, small Kalmyk communities have been established in the United States, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic Prevost, Antoine François d Exiles 1697 – 1763
Abbé Antoine Francois Prévost d Exiles usually called Abbé Prévost, was a French writer, translator and historian. As a young man he was sent to a Jesuit college as a novice, but his literary activities repeatedly interfered in his monastic life. He deserted the monastery and spent some years in the Dutch Republic to avoid repercussions. He later entered several Benedictine convents and in 1726 was ordained to priesthood. In 1728 he again fled and sought refuge in London and, temporarily, the Dutch Republic. From 1733-1740 he edited the literary journal Le pour et le contre in London. His main works include Mémoires et aventures d’un homme de qualité (1728-1731), of which Histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut is the most well-known part, and Histoire générale des voyages 1746-1789, published in 15 volumes by Prevost, until his death and extended to 20 volumes by various authors until 1789.

Histoire Géneral des Voyages was a monumental eighteenth century general history divided according to geographic region. The original volumes were written by Antoine François Prévost d\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Exiles, a French author, novelist, theologian, natural historian, and a priest of the Jesuit and Benedictine orders, but continued by numerous other authors after Prévosts death. The earliest books mostly deal with the Far East and South-East Asia, providing a general history of their regions, kingdoms, customs, culture, costumes, natural phenomena and religious beliefs. Much of Prévosts information is derived from the reports of Jesuit missionaries, Portuguese merchants, and famous explorers, from Marco Polo to Sir Francis Drake. Although written in French, the popularity of the Histoire among Dutch audiences meant that many of the illustrative plates and maps published to accompany the work were either re-engraved or subtitled in Dutch by the engraver Jakob van der Schley. Prévost himself had travelled widely throughout the Netherlands, launching his literary career in Amsterdam and the Hague after fleeing the Benedictines in France. Prevosts work on China, and indeed many of van der Schleys plates, owe a great debt to Johan Nieuhoff (1618-1672) , a Dutch traveller who explored much of China, India, and Brazil while in the employ of the Dutch East India Company. Nieuhoff wrote extensively, with a particular focus on China, for his memoirs, and his numerous drawings of Chinese places and people were much copied by later engravers for numerous works of Chinese interest. Nieuhoffs own book became a major source of inspiration for eighteenth century chinoiserie, and are amongst the first western illustrations to depict the Chinese people in a manner which was based upon personal observation rather than the tradition of oriental fantasy.

The 20 volumes cover the early explorations & discoveries on 3 continents:
Africa (v. 1-5) - The African volumes cover primarily coastal countries of West, Southern, and Eastern Africa, plus the Congo, Madagascar, Arabia and the Persian Gulf areas.
Asia (v. 5-11) - The Asian volumes cover China, Korea, Tibet, Japan, Philippines, and countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Volume 11 includes Australia and Antarctica.
America (v. 12-15) - cover voyages and discoveries in America, including the East Indies, South, Central and North America.
Volumes 16-20 included supplemental volumes & tables along with continuation of voyages and discoveries in Russia, Northern Europe, America, Asia & Australia.
A number of notable cartographers and engravers contributed to the copper plate maps and views to the 20 volumes including Nicolas Bellin, Jan Schley, Chedel, Franc Aveline, Fessard, and many others.

Jakob van der Schley (26th July 1715 - 12th February 1779), also known as Jan von Schley or Jacobus van Schley, was a Dutch engraver and draughtsman. An apprentice of the French engraver Bernard Picart, he is best known for his engravings of the majority of plates in the Dutch edition of l Histoire Géneral des Voyages. Despite producing mainly maps and views for this work, van der Schley was predominantly a portrait artist and literary illustrator.

Please note all items auctioned are genuine, we do not sell reproductions. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) can be issued on request.
What is an Antique Map

The word Antique in the traditional sense refers to an item that is more than a hundred years old. In the past maps were sold in two forms, as a single sheet (broadsheet) or bound in an atlas or book. The majority of antique maps for sale today come from books or atlases and have survived due to the protection offered by the hardback covers.

When considering a purchase

The first thing to determine when staring a collection or purchasing an item, is what is important to you. Most collectors prefer to build their collections around a theme. You may decide to collect maps from one region or country, charting its development through time. Similarly you could collect maps of one particular period in time, by type (i.e. sea or celestial charts) or by cartographer. The collector might also want to consider the theme of cartographical misconceptions such as California as an island or Australia as Terra Australis or the Great Southern Land.
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Pricing is based on a number of different factors, the most important of which is regional. In any series of maps the most valuable are usually the World Map and the America/North America. The World because it is usually the most decorative and America because it has the strongest regional market. Other factors that come into play re: price is rarity, age, size, historical importance, decorative value (colour) and overall condition and quality of paper it is printed on.
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About US

Classical Images was founded 1998 and has built an excellent reputation for supplying high quality original antiquarian maps, historical atlases, antique books and prints. We carry an extensive inventory of antiquarian collectibles from the 15th to 19th century. Our collection typically includes rare books and decorative antique maps and prints by renowned cartographers, authors and engravers. Specific items not listed may be sourced on request.
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