May 26, 2016 - Sale 2417

Sale 2417 - Lot 212

Price Realized: $ 12,500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 6,000
(PARIS.) Turgot, Michel-Étienne; and Bretez, Louis. Plan de Paris commencé l'année 1734. 20 engraved isometric view plates (18 and 19 joined, as often), together comprising a colossal view of Paris, with the engraved folding key plate. All on laid paper, mounting tabs renewed. Folio, contemporary full calf gilt with arms of the city of Paris at center, expertly recased preserving original cover panels and backstrip; contents generally very clean with rich impressions, smallest 1/4 inch dampstain at bottom edge of few plates, very few minor tears repaired in margins and on plate 7 proceeding into gutter from bottom edge. Overall quite handsome. Paris: Levé et Dessiné par Louis Bretez, Gravé par Claude Lucas, 1739

Additional Details

one of the greatest city views of all time. Conceived of and executed without the aid of manned flight, Turgot's plan is an astounding example of the cartographer's art. When joined together for presentation as a wall map, the whole image is more than 10 feet wide.