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"HONDIUS, Henricus (1597-1651) - VISSCHER, Claes Janszoon (1587-1652) - GOOS, Pieter (1615-1675). Composite Atlas. Amsterdam and Paris: Ca. 1640, composed before 1750. This composite atlas seems to have been composed during the reign of Louis XV (1710-1774) and contains 88 maps of Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Silesia, Scandinavia, Italy, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Hungary, Switzerland and France: countries involved in the War of the Polish Succession (1733 1738) and The War of the Austrian Succession (1740 1748). On the inside of the cover, a large engraving (book plate) is pasted with a dedication to Charles François Paul Le Normant de Tournehem, with his coats of arms. This engraving depicts "Time saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy", engraved by Laurent Cars, after a painting by François Lemoyne, 1737. Le Normant de Tournehem, was general manager of the Buildings of the King and a great art lover. The Normant Tournehem was most likely to be the biological father of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the future Marquise de Pompadour. Bound in contemporary brown morocco in "Du Seuil" type, decorated with fillets making up two frames around the boards, the smaller one inside the larger. The spine consits of eight compartments, with raised bands, a gilt title "Allemagne et Pays-Bas" and gilt fillets. (Needs restoration). The maps are all numbered in a contemporary hand in brown ink, beginning with number 4. The first 4 maps removed. PROVENANCE: Charles François Paul Le ormant de Tournehem (1684 1751) French financier, a 'fermier-général', or tax-farmer. He was most likely the biological father of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson (1721 1764), the future Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour. She was a member of the French court and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death. Thanks to the influence of Madame de Pompadour, Le Normant de Tournehem was made directeur général of the Bâtiments du Roi in December 1745. He held this post, overseeing royal building works, until his death. He was a great art lover. The Normant Tournehem, it is supposed, owned this atlas, as it included an engraving dedicated to him, the maps are covering the regions of the wars occurred during the reign of Louis XV: The War of the Polish Succession (a conflict between France (Louis XV married Marie Leszczynka, daughter of the King of Poland Stanislas Leszczynski), an ally of Spain, Sardinia and Bavaria, Russia and Austria (1733 to 1738), and the War of the Austrian Succession. In addition to the maps of Germany, the atlas includes rare and specific maps of Poland and Silesia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Franconia and Electoral Palatinate. These maps show the geopolitics of the moment, and Le Normant de Tournehem being close to Louis XV, must have had a great interest in these particular regions. In addition, to support this hypothesis, two portraits are glued to the back of the maps, those of Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great (1712 to 1786 ) and Maximilian III Joseph (1712 to 1777 ). Conflict between France (Louis XV married Marie Leszczynka, daughter of the King of Poland Stanislas Leszczynski), an ally of Spain, Sardinia and Bavaria, Russia and Austria (1727 to 1738). THE MAPS: A description of some of the 88 maps in this atlas: The maps are contemporarily cut outside the plate mark and pasted on a larger sheet, with extended margins to fit into the atlas. The maps have original, strong hand colouring. Some have (mainly) light marginal water staining, and some have worm traces. The maps are good, with dark impressions. Maps by P.Goos, N.Jansz Picator (Vischer), H.Hondius, J.Janssonius, N.Tavernier, etc. Some of the most interesting and important maps: Five working copies of Melchior.Tavernier'. Carte généralle d'Almaigne, nouvellement misse en françois et ampliffiée de tous les royaumes et pais circonvoisins… Paris, [ca 1640]. 400 x 530 mm. In original outline colours. 5 Ide".
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