Sanson d'Abbeville, Nicolas

Folio (11 1/4 x 8 in.; 286 x 200 mm). Thirty double-pages including thirteen engraved maps, colored in outline, inscribed "Lord Arendell A3/19" on title-page, manuscript index of the maps at the end, manuscript page numbers; light dampstain at inner margin of first leaves. Contemporary French red morocco gilt, with arms of Baron Arundell of Wardour on covers; ink stain at joint of first cover, spine slightly faded and rubbed. 

Henry Arundell, 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour (armorial binding) — Lord Arundell of Wardour (early nineteenth century bookplate)

Pastoureau, Sanson IA; Shirley, British Library T.SAN-3a. 

Under Louis XIV, France achieved a measure of political stability. As a result, an independent French map business began to develop and flourish, one which would eventually rival and supersede that of Amsterdam. Nicolas Sanson d'Abbeville was the founder of the French school of cartography, and helped to shift the center of European map publishing from Holland to France by the end of the seventeenth century. Sanson's work, acclaimed for its geographical accuracy and high standard of engraving, was copied by Dutch, German and English cartographers until well into the eighteenth century.