Antique Map of Meurthe by Vuillemin with 50 Notable Places, France c.1850
Description: This finely detailed and beautifully illustrated antique map of the Meurthe department in northeastern France was drawn by the French cartographer Alexandre Vuillemin and engraved by Lemoine around 1850. Part of the celebrated *Atlas Départemental de La France*, this map combines precise geographic rendering with decorative vignettes characteristic of 19th-century French cartography.
At its core, the map presents Meurthe's topography, towns, communes, rivers, and departmental borders. Major routes and rail lines are highlighted with hand-colored outlines, marking key transport arteries of the mid-19th century. Rich embellishments surround the map: in the upper center is a finely engraved city view of Nancy, the historical capital of the duchy of Lorraine. The lower right features a portrait of General Rousselot, born in Nancy in 1775, an officer of distinction during the Napoleonic Wars. Opposite, in the top right, a pair in regional Lorraine costume represents the department’s cultural identity. In the bottom left corner is the departmental coat of arms, framed in elegant classical design.
The visual appeal of this map is enhanced by delicate pastel hand-coloring, original from the period, highlighting cantonal divisions in pink, green, yellow, and blue. A climbing vine motif and intricate corner decorations add further charm, making the piece both an informative document and a work of art.
This map notably identifies 50 key towns, cities, and communes of historic and economic importance, each with a brief explanation:
1. Nancy – former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine 2. Lunéville – royal seat of the Dukes of Lorraine 3. Toul – historic bishopric and fortified town 4. Pont-à-Mousson – Renaissance university town 5. Saint-Nicolas-de-Port – pilgrimage site with Gothic basilica 6. Château-Salins – known for medieval saltworks 7. Blâmont – border town near Alsace 8. Baccarat – renowned for crystal glass production 9. Bayon – junction of important trade routes 10. Dieuze – salt mining center since Roman times 11. Badonviller – forested frontier town 12. Vézelise – agricultural and market center 13. Dombasle-sur-Meurthe – chemical industry hub 14. Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy – suburb and university site 15. Jarville – with castle housing the Musée de l’Histoire du Fer 16. Liverdun – medieval hilltop town 17. Haroué – known for Château d’Haroué 18. Flavigny-sur-Moselle – site of historic canal junction 19. Saint-Max – cultural suburb of Nancy 20. Commercy – birthplace of madeleines 21. Tomblaine – residential suburb of Nancy 22. Bayonville – agricultural village 23. Rosières-aux-Salines – known for livestock markets 24. Frouard – important for rail and industry 25. Custines – industrial development in 19th century 26. Pompey – site of 19th-century metallurgy 27. Varangéville – salt and canal commerce 28. Essey-lès-Nancy – residential and commercial suburb 29. Saint-Nicolas – one of Lorraine's major saints honored here 30. Écrouves – fortified town near Toul 31. Marbache – known for iron mines 32. Chaligny – forested village with iron mining 33. Neufchâteau – border trade and market center 34. Frolois – on the Moselle, strategic location 35. Malzéville – historic fortifications and aqueducts 36. Lay-Saint-Christophe – historic religious site 37. Laxou – merged with Nancy in growth period 38. Maxéville – known for vineyards and limestone 39. Seichamps – expanding residential area 40. Heillecourt – suburb with château and park 41. Ludres – village turned industrial suburb 42. Fléville-devant-Nancy – castle with Renaissance architecture 43. Pulligny – on the Moselle, agriculture 44. Saint-Mihiel – monastic center with sculptural heritage 45. Gerbéviller – royal town known for porcelain 46. Mirecourt – famous for violin-making 47. Bayonville-sur-Mad – rural hamlet 48. Chenevières – location of glass factory 49. Mangonville – small fortified village 50. Croismare – near Baccarat, regional significance
Collectors of antique cartography will appreciate this map for its aesthetic embellishments, historical value, and the insight it offers into France's pre-1871 geography—before the Meurthe department was divided following the Franco-Prussian War. It is a remarkable artifact of geographic, political, and artistic interest.
Condition report: Very good condition. Light age-toning to margins. Original hand coloring. Plate mark visible. Very small spots along edges. No centerfold.
Framing tips: Ideal for framing with a double mat—ivory outer mat with a muted pink or green inner line to echo the canton colors. A dark walnut or black frame with antique gold fillet would complement the engraving’s refined details and vignette work.
Technique: Engraving with original hand color Maker: Alexandre Vuillemin, Paris, circa 1850
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.