Antique Map of Marne, France – Engraved by Levasseur, 1850s
This beautifully detailed 19th-century engraved map of the Marne department in northeastern France was created by the renowned cartographer Victor Levasseur and printed by A. Vuillemin. It forms part of Levasseur’s celebrated atlas series “La France Illustrée”, widely admired for its harmonious blend of cartographic precision, cultural vignettes, and historical reference.
The map presents the department of Marne, bordered in soft pink and traversed by finely hand-colored roads, rivers, and administrative boundaries. It is framed with richly engraved scenes, including an illustration of the city of Châlons-sur-Marne, the figure of revolutionary postman Jean-Baptiste Drouet, and a provincial coat of arms. The backdrop also includes rural and architectural vignettes, adding depth to the cultural identity of the region.
Marne, with its capital Châlons-en-Champagne (formerly Châlons-sur-Marne), is famed for being one of the most historically and economically important areas in the Champagne region. Its fertile plains, crisscrossed by major waterways and trade routes, played a key role in France’s military and industrial history, particularly during the two World Wars.
This print is not only a valuable map but a visual chronicle of regional identity in 19th-century France.
Fifty Important Places and Why They Matter
1. Châlons-sur-Marne – departmental capital, administrative center 2. Épernay – Champagne wine hub 3. Reims – historical coronation city (just outside, noted) 4. Vitry-le-François – canal and river junction 5. Sainte-Menehould – linked to Louis XVI’s flight 6. Fismes – WWII battle significance 7. Montmirail – Napoleonic battle site 8. Dormans – Champagne vineyards 9. Suippes – French military training base 10. Sézanne – historic market town 11. Chaltrait – medieval village site 12. Anglure – agricultural importance 13. Saint-Remy-en-Bouzemont – regional fairs 14. Sompuis – rural crossroads 15. Mailly – military aviation center 16. Marson – traditional winegrowing 17. Vertus – ancient wine-producing village 18. Pogny – strategic rail point 19. Somme-Vesle – river source 20. Bouzy – renowned for Champagne Grand Cru 21. Tours-sur-Marne – wine commerce 22. Aÿ – historic Champagne house 23. Avize – premium vineyards 24. Damery – river trade and wines 25. Bisseuil – picturesque wine commune 26. Villers-Marmery – forested hill village 27. Vavray-le-Grand – Roman traces 28. Changy – medieval route town 29. Courdemanges – canal landmark 30. Écriennes – ancient monastic link 31. Sainte-Menehould – again, for Battle of Argonne 32. Jonchery-sur-Suippe – rural confluence 33. Valmy – site of pivotal French Revolution battle 34. Somme-Suippe – river origin 35. Tilloy-et-Bellay – ancient religious site 36. Athis – pre-Roman settlements 37. Saint-Mard-sur-le-Mont – military past 38. Heiltz-l'Évêque – episcopal estate 39. Frignicourt – crossroads of Champagne 40. Pringy – marshy river hamlet 41. Omey – historic commune 42. Cernay-en-Dormois – war memorial 43. Courtisols – Roman remains 44. Saint-Amand-sur-Fion – monastic heritage 45. Marson – again for vineyard history 46. Coole – route intersection 47. La Chaussée-sur-Marne – ferry village 48. Matignicourt – farming commune 49. Bassuet – Champagne foothills 50. Huiron – ecclesiastical importance
Condition Excellent condition with original hand color. Clean impression with full margins. Very light age-toning and faint edge spotting typical for the period. No visible fold lines across the plate.
Framing Tips A classic champagne-colored mat paired with a deep mahogany or black wooden frame would elegantly highlight the map’s subtle coloring and historical engravings. A gold inner fillet would accentuate the vignette work.
Technique: Engraving, hand-colored Maker: Victor Levasseur, France, 1850s
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