DUFRÉNOY (Armand), BEAUMONT (Léonce Élie de), BROCHANT DE VI - Lot 137

DUFRÉNOY (Armand), BEAUMONT (Léonce Élie de), BROCHANT DE VILLIERS (André). Carte géologique de la France. Executed under the direction of Mr. Brochant de Villiers, Inspecteur général des mines, by Mm. Dufrénoy et Elie de Beaumont, ingénieurs des mines. The relief drawing was executed by A. Desmadryl. The topography engraved by C. E. Collin, the letter by J. M. Hacq. First edition of the very first geological map of France, a major work by geologists Armand Dufrénoy and Élie de Beaumont. This monumental color map, printed in six sheets (770 x 1120 mm), is laid out in 2 columns x 3 lines, for a total dimension of 2.32 m wide (2310 mm) and 2.24 m high (240 mm). A seminal document for French geology. S.l. S.n., 1840. 6 cloth-covered sheets, 770 x 1120 mm, folded 250 x 190 cm. The cloth is a little browned, with a few small holes in the folds, not serious. In 1822, when Greenough's six-sheet geological map of England had just been published, André Brochant de Villiers, Inspector General of Mines, decided to produce a geological map of France. He hired two young mining engineers, Armand Dufrénoy and Léonce Élie de Beaumont. In 1823, the three spent six months training in England. On their return in 1825, geological exploration began, with de Beaumont examining the eastern part of France, and Dufrénoy the western part. 80,000 km were covered over almost fifteen years. The relief engraving was completed in 1840, and the map was presented to the Académie des Sciences on December 20, 1841. With this first geological map of France, Dufrénoy and de Beaumont gave a decisive boost to the development of this science in France. Such was their success that, in 1843, the Geological Society of London awarded them its highest distinction. And in 1868, an imperial decree established the "Service de la carte géologique de la France". A new era began for French geological cartography. Very good condition.