King's hunting. Map of the surroundings of Versailles,... Lot 94

King's hunting. Map of the surroundings of Versailles, known as the King's Hunts. Paris], [Picquet], [c.1820]. An assembly board, which has its own compartment (47 x 63 cm) and 12 canvas cards (81 x 46 cm), each cut into sections, covered and folded. They were engraved by Jean-Baptiste Bouclet, Francois d'Itoudan and Tardieu l'Ainé. The maps, which can be assembled into a large panel, cover an area including the regions of Mantes, Poissy, Saint-Denis, Crespières, Versailles, Paris, Montfort-l'Amaury, Chevreuse, Sceaux, Rambouillet, Arpajon and Corbeil. The scales are indicated in toises and meters. The whole set in an in-4 slipcase, long green grain morocco, richly ornamented smooth back, wide gilt lace framing the plates, gilt roulette frame on the cups (263 x 185 mm). Second edition of this map of the King's hunts, which was one of the largest cartographic enterprises of the second half of the 18th century. Louis XV entrusted its management to Jean-Baptiste Berthier, head of the engineer-geographers of the War Depot (and father of the Marshal), who called on the best topographers of the time. Three campaigns of surveys were necessary, carried out between 1764 and 1773, and the first printing of the maps took place in two stages: first 9 plates at the end of the 18th century (including that of assembly), and the 4 others in 1807 (for the emperor's hunting). Covering an area of 3400 km², this map is distinguished by its precision and the multitude of details represented. It remains one of the best tools for a general knowledge of the land use of this region (ploughing, meadows, vineyards, market and vegetable crops, woods, sheds, parks) and hydrography (Saint-Denis canal and Ourcq canal) in the 18th century. Very beautiful specimen, one of the rarest in this form, i.e. in a period full morocco case.