Antique French Map of Ille-et-Vilaine Region with Rennes, Saint-Malo, 1800s

€ 140

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Mapmaker / artist: Alexandre Vuillemin, France, mid-19th century
Technique: Engraving with original hand color
Sheet size: 32.5 × 26.1 cm (12.8 × 10.3 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-13331-34

What the condition grades mean

Excellent: Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good: Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good: Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair: Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

Condition

Condition report: Very good condition with strong hand-coloring of borders. Some light scattered foxing and faint toning in the margins, consistent with age. Clean impression with well-preserved decorative vignettes.

About this sheet

Antique Map of Ille-et-Vilaine, France by Vuillemin, 19th Century

This decorative antique map presents the French département of Ille-et-Vilaine, situated in the Brittany region of northwestern France. Engraved by Alexandre Vuillemin in the mid-19th century, it originates from his renowned atlas of the departments of France, admired for its blend of cartographic accuracy and artistic embellishment.

The map details towns, villages, rivers, and road networks, with boundaries highlighted in original outline hand-coloring. Surrounding vignettes enrich the composition: a portrait of the celebrated French writer and statesman François-René de Chateaubriand, born in Saint-Malo, anchors the left margin, while a view of Rennes, the département’s capital, graces the top right. Additional embellishments include a horse vignette symbolizing regional agriculture and the departmental coat of arms at lower right.

Ille-et-Vilaine is a département rich in history, marked by its medieval towns, fortified castles, and coastal ports. Rennes, a center of learning and culture, is prominently noted, alongside Saint-Malo, a historic walled port city once famed for privateers and seafaring trade.

Alexandre Vuillemin (1812–1880) was a distinguished French cartographer and publisher, recognized for his clear geographical renderings enlivened with fine engravings. His atlas of France’s departments provided not only practical information but also a richly illustrated overview of regional identity during the 19th century.

Framing tips: An ebonized or gilt frame with a wide ivory mat will highlight the engraved details and decorative vignettes. A narrow Breton blue inner liner could be added to echo the coastal identity of the region.