France · 19th century
€ 390
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good condition. Slight toning around the edges and minimal foxing in the margins. Original centerfold as issued. Bright original coloring. Plate number “11” appears in the top right corner.
Antique Map of Italy – Pre-Unification Italy by Andriveau-Goujon, Paris 1861
This antique map of Italy, titled simply “Italie,” was published in Paris in 1861 by E. Andriveau-Goujon as plate no. 11 in his Atlas Universel. The map captures the Italian Peninsula and its surrounding islands just as Italy was undergoing unification, making it a compelling historical document of the fragmented political landscape that preceded the formation of the modern Italian state.
The map shows the entire Italian Peninsula, from the Alps in the north to the tip of Sicily in the south, including Corsica, Sardinia, Elba, and the coastal regions of Dalmatia and North Africa. It reflects the pre-unification borders, with the Italian states still divided among the Kingdom of Sardinia (including Piedmont and Sardinia), the Austrian-controlled Lombardy-Venetia in yellow, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Papal States in central Italy, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the south. Each political entity is delicately shaded in pastel tones, offering a clear depiction of the regional divisions of the time.
Major cities such as Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Turin are clearly marked, alongside smaller towns, rivers, and transport routes. The Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts are well defined, and the surrounding Mediterranean context adds both geographic and visual interest.
This map was engraved and hand-colored with precision, featuring a decorative border and fine cartographic detail typical of Andriveau-Goujon's high-quality publications. Issued at a pivotal time in European history, it stands as both a beautiful piece of cartography and an important record of Italy before its unification was completed in the 1860s.
Condition: Very good condition. Slight toning around the edges and minimal foxing in the margins. Original centerfold as issued. Bright original coloring. Plate number “11” appears in the top right corner.
Framing tips: Best displayed in a classic black or gold frame with a light ivory or cream mat. A secondary inner mat in olive green or soft red can complement the tones of the Italian territories.
Technique: Engraving with original hand coloring
Maker: E. Andriveau-Goujon, Paris, 1861
