Lot 93: DUFRÉNOY, Ours Pierre Armand (1792-1857) and Jean Baptiste ÉLIE DE BEAUMONT (1798-1874). Explication de la carte géologique de la France rédigée sous la direction de M. Brochant de Villiers Inspecteur Général des Mines . Paris: Imprimerie

DUFRÉNOY, Ours Pierre Armand (1792-1857) and Jean Baptiste ÉLIE DE BEAUMONT (1798-1874). Explication de la carte géologique de la France rédigée sous la direction de M. Brochant de Villiers Inspecteur Général des Mines. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1841 (Vol. I and map), 1848 (Vol. II).

2 text volumes, 4° (267 x 209 mm), and large map in 6 separate folding sections. Hand-colored folding engraved map mounted on linen in Vol. I, text illustrations, one of which hand-coloured, the large map comprising of 6 hand-colored engraved sections by C.E. Collin & J.M. Hacq after A. Desmadryl, each 730 x 1120 mm., mounted on linen. (Sporadic foxing to text, heavier to Vol. I; small stamps to titles and last leaves, and to verso of linen backing of map.) Contemporary half calf, with uniformly bound pull-off map case (rebacked, corners worn). Provenance: New York University Library (stamps).

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST MODERN GEOLOGICAL MAP OF FRANCE. The need of such a map was recognized as early as the mid-eighteenth century, but the necessary research was not permitted until after Greenough's six-part geological map of England was published in 1820. Duférnoy and Élie spent time in England studying Greenough's methods, and then 4 years on field research in France, before the 1:500,000 map and commentaries were published in 1841-8. A further 3 volumes of commentary were published in 1873, 1878 and 1879. Ward-Carozzzi 859-860; Norman 667.