Paris, l'Auteur & Desnos (vol. I), Chec l'Auteur (vol. 2-3), 1761-62. Folio. (34x28,5 cm.). 3 cont. hcalf. Backs worn, tears to spine ends, hinges weakening, corners bumped. Vol.I: 57 double-folio leaves, all engraved including engraved ornamental title in rococo-style (leaves numb. 1-57). - Vol. II: 70 double-folio leaves, all engraved including double-page engraved title (different from the title in vol. 1) + Table des Matieres. - Vol. III: 60 double-folio leaves, all engraved including double-page engraved title (the same as in vol. II) + Table des Matieres (numb. 71-130). With in all 119 handcoloured engraved maps and astronomical plates. Further 68 other plates with tables, text etc. All maps and illustrations having engraved text on both sides. On good thick paper. A few brownspots, some dampstains mainly marginal, 2 plates with small tears, no loss.
First edition of this atlas, which could be called an Atlas-series, as the different part were sold separately, thus the first volume, having its own title, deals with the historical development of cosmography, geology, astronomy, oceanography, winds, streams etc. and illustrates this in a series of impressive pictures with globes, spheres, continents, world-systems etc.etc. Having many maps of the continents, globe-projections etc. - Volume 2-3 deals mainly with historical geography and mapping, having 84 handcoloured maps. Another volume was issued dealing with contemporary geography, this is not present here. A fitth volume was announced, but is unknown to the bibliographies. - Phillips No. 628. - Shirley: T-buy 1a-2a.