Carte chorographique des Pays-Bas Autrichiens dédiée à leurs Majestés Impériales et Royales [...] gravée par L.A. Dupuis [...] en 1777.

25 copper engravings, 60 x 47 cm, 59 x 63,5 cm and 60 x 94 cm, mounted on cloth (slight stains and some foxing on some pls, several ownership stamps).

In 4 boxes: half calf and gilt stamped spine, marbled paper (used).

Complete copy of the "Carte marchande", the original commercial edition on a reduced scale of the "Carte de Cabinet des Pays Autrichiens". The presentation of this large scaled map to emperor Joseph II on December 10, 1777 is the subject of pl. 16, drawn by Eisen and engraved by Patas. Besides the detailed geographical maps, there is an explicative table (pl. 1), the title after C.N. Cochin Fils (pl. 11) and engraved by M.A. Stagnon, the map of Brussels (pl. 21), the general map (pl. 22) and the "tableau d'assemblage" (pl. 23). Based upon the detailed topographical survey of the Austrian Netherlands executed by artillerists between 1771 and 1777, this map covers most of the current territory of Belgium, and was used for the maps published by the national mapping agency in the next decades. The rich amount of information makes it an excellent source for the topography and history of the country (relief, hydrography, transport, parishes, border issues, vegetation, agriculture, industries etc.). Ref. Lemoine-Isabeau.- Les militaires et la cartographie des Pays-Bas méridionaux. Brux., 1984, pp. 207 sqq. Prov. Dépot géneral de la guerre. - Directoire executif. Cabinet historique et topographique militaire (stamps).