May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
136
Bouchette's monumental and rare wall map of Lower Canada
[WALL MAP-CANADA]
BOUCHETTE, JOSEPH. To His Royal Highness George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland, this Topographical map of Lower Canada shewing its division into Districts, Counties, Seigniories, & Townships, with all the lands reserved both for the Crown & the Clergy... London: William Faden, August 12th, 1815. Engraved map on ten sheets, dissected and sewn along the edges to an original pale blue/silver edging forming ten panels. Engraved by J. Walker & Sons. Overall about 58 x 130 inches; 4.8 x 10.8 feet (147 x 330 cm); very nicely presented in five vertical plex-glass frames containing two sections each. A border separating the right four sections from the left six appears to have been trimmed at an early date to form the continuous image. Very fine condition overall, the corners of each section tipped to a cloth backing, very light spotting and offsetting, the edging very well preserved, not fully removed from the frames.
Joseph Bouchette's very rare and impressive wall map of Lower Canada depicts the region of Southeastern Canada along the St. Lawrence River to Montreal with portions of the United States below. It is a tour-de-force of engraving. In the Northeast, the mouth of the St. Lawrence River slightly inland is shown as above the Province of Maine in the Southeast. Continuing along the river, the map reaches Quebec at the center and extends to Montreal and Upper Canada at the Northwest. Below Quebec and Montreal are shown parts of the states of New York and Vermont as divided by Lake Champlain. The map offers detailed inset plans of the City of Quebec, the Town of Montreal, and the Town of Three Rivers. Inset views at upper right show islands including The Brandy Pots, The Pilgrims, and The Pillars and Goose. A lighthouse is depicted on Green Island and the map has lots of other intricate detail including an elegant cartouche with a waterfall, city view, and camp scene.
In the title, Bouchette signs the dedication to this monumental wall map Surveyor General of the Province, his post since 1804. Following the War of 1812, the map was commissioned by the Canadian Legislature. The manuscript was prepared by 1814 and with a grant from the legislature and public subscriptions was in production in London later that year and issued in 1815 separately from Bouchette's A Topographical Description of the Province of Lower Canada. While other Bouchette maps of Upper Canada are more frequently encountered, the wall map of Lower Canada is scarce and we trace few copies in the auction record.
Sold for $9,600
Estimated at $12,000 - $18,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
[WALL MAP-CANADA]
BOUCHETTE, JOSEPH. To His Royal Highness George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland, this Topographical map of Lower Canada shewing its division into Districts, Counties, Seigniories, & Townships, with all the lands reserved both for the Crown & the Clergy... London: William Faden, August 12th, 1815. Engraved map on ten sheets, dissected and sewn along the edges to an original pale blue/silver edging forming ten panels. Engraved by J. Walker & Sons. Overall about 58 x 130 inches; 4.8 x 10.8 feet (147 x 330 cm); very nicely presented in five vertical plex-glass frames containing two sections each. A border separating the right four sections from the left six appears to have been trimmed at an early date to form the continuous image. Very fine condition overall, the corners of each section tipped to a cloth backing, very light spotting and offsetting, the edging very well preserved, not fully removed from the frames.
Joseph Bouchette's very rare and impressive wall map of Lower Canada depicts the region of Southeastern Canada along the St. Lawrence River to Montreal with portions of the United States below. It is a tour-de-force of engraving. In the Northeast, the mouth of the St. Lawrence River slightly inland is shown as above the Province of Maine in the Southeast. Continuing along the river, the map reaches Quebec at the center and extends to Montreal and Upper Canada at the Northwest. Below Quebec and Montreal are shown parts of the states of New York and Vermont as divided by Lake Champlain. The map offers detailed inset plans of the City of Quebec, the Town of Montreal, and the Town of Three Rivers. Inset views at upper right show islands including The Brandy Pots, The Pilgrims, and The Pillars and Goose. A lighthouse is depicted on Green Island and the map has lots of other intricate detail including an elegant cartouche with a waterfall, city view, and camp scene.
In the title, Bouchette signs the dedication to this monumental wall map Surveyor General of the Province, his post since 1804. Following the War of 1812, the map was commissioned by the Canadian Legislature. The manuscript was prepared by 1814 and with a grant from the legislature and public subscriptions was in production in London later that year and issued in 1815 separately from Bouchette's A Topographical Description of the Province of Lower Canada. While other Bouchette maps of Upper Canada are more frequently encountered, the wall map of Lower Canada is scarce and we trace few copies in the auction record.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
