La France Divisee en Ses Douze Anciens Gouvernements et en ses Vingt Quatre Nouveaux.

France Divided into Its Twelve Old Governments and its Twenty-Four New Governments – Approximate Title Translation

Much subtext lies beneath the surface of this sheet, which highlights the political and territorial expansion of France since the last meeting of the Estates General in 1614 (the governing body would not meet again until the French Revolution).

The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720, but was re-printed in numerous in several subsequent editions until the late 1730s. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The breadth of content offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. The descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.