Antique Map of Mayenne – Hand-Colored Engraving by Levasseur, France c.1850
€ 220
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1850
Mapmaker / artist
V. Levasseur, Paris, c.1850
Technique
Hand-colored engraving
Sheet size
32.5 × 26.1 cm (12.8 × 10.3 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13331-52
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
Excellent condition overall. Light age toning to margins; central image clean. No visible tears, folds, or major foxing. Crisp plate mark present.
About this sheet
Antique Map of Mayenne – Hand-Colored Engraving by Levasseur, France c.1850
This finely detailed 19th-century engraved map of the department of Mayenne in northwestern France was created by the esteemed French cartographer Victor Levasseur and published around 1850 as part of his celebrated Atlas National Illustré. Known for combining accurate geography with richly decorative elements, Levasseur's maps remain among the most visually striking and collectible of the 19th century.
The map itself outlines the boundaries of Mayenne and is enhanced with original hand-coloring that highlights département borders, roads, rivers, and communes. The surrounding steel-engraved vignettes add an artistic and ethnographic dimension: at the top, a detailed townscape of Laval is shown in a scenic panoramic view; at left and right, depictions of local inhabitants in traditional dress provide insight into regional culture. In the lower right corner is a portrait of Jean de Cheverus (1768–1836), a prominent Laval-born bishop who became the first Archbishop of Boston and later Archbishop of Bordeaux.
Additional illustrations include the Mayenne coat of arms, regional flora and fauna, and agricultural motifs—emphasizing the rural and historical identity of the department. The layout is vertically oriented, with a baroque cartouche at the bottom framing the name "Mayenne" in an ornate style typical of Levasseur’s aesthetic. Printed text in the lower margin confirms the engraver as Levasseur and the publisher as A. Combette.
This map not only serves as a geographical reference but also as a visual document of French provincial life in the mid-19th century. It is ideal for collectors of historical cartography, Francophiles, or anyone with an interest in Mayenne’s local heritage.
Selected towns and why they matter:
Condition report: Excellent condition overall. Light age toning to margins; central image clean. No visible tears, folds, or major foxing. Crisp plate mark present.
Framing tips: This map would look especially attractive with a cream or soft gray mat and a thin black or antique gold frame to emphasize the engraved detail and blue-colored borders. A double mat with a pale blue inner line could echo the border color and bring subtle harmony to the composition.
