Antique French Map of Indre-et-Loire with Tours, Amboise, Chinon, 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-13331-36
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: Excellent condition with crisp impression and well-preserved hand coloring. Very light toning and occasional minor foxing in the margins, not affecting the image.
About this sheet
Antique Map of Indre-et-Loire, France by Vuillemin, 19th Century
This beautifully engraved map illustrates the département of Indre-et-Loire, located in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Produced in the mid-19th century by Alexandre Vuillemin, it comes from his celebrated atlas of the French départements, notable for combining precise cartography with decorative embellishments.
The map shows the towns, rivers, and major roads of the département, with departmental borders outlined in original hand color. Surrounding the map are finely engraved portraits and vignettes that celebrate the region’s historical and cultural heritage. Portraits include Charles VII, the French king, and the celebrated Renaissance writer François Rabelais. At the bottom right is a portrait of Destouches, the French dramatist. A vignette at lower left shows the evocative ruins of the Château de Loches, a medieval fortress of great historical importance.
Indre-et-Loire is the heart of the Loire Valley, renowned for its châteaux, vineyards, and as a cradle of French history and literature. By pairing geographical detail with decorative elements, Vuillemin’s map serves as both a reference tool and a celebration of regional identity.
Alexandre Vuillemin (1812–1880), a noted French cartographer, produced many atlases and maps distinguished by their clarity and artistic framing. His atlas of France’s départements remains a valuable resource for collectors and historians alike.
Condition report: Excellent condition with crisp impression and well-preserved hand coloring. Very light toning and occasional minor foxing in the margins, not affecting the image.
Framing tips: Best displayed in a dark walnut or ebonized frame with a wide cream or ivory mat to highlight the vignette details. A subtle gold fillet could enhance the map’s decorative character.
