unbound
1690 · Paris
by NOLIN, Jean Baptiste
Paris: Jean Baptiste Nolin, 1690. unbound. Map. Engraving with original hand coloring. Page measures 19.5" x 26". This scarce large map of Ireland was published by Jean-Baptiste Colin in 1690. Elaborately detailed with some place names noted in several languages, the map identifies towns, cities, rives, coastal features, islands, and bays with mountains rendered in profile. The four provinces of Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and Munster are noted. A beautifully ornate title cartouche adorns the top left quadrant. Includes a dedication to the Queen and a box of explanatory text. The map is in good condition with minor foxing and toning. Jean-Baptiste Nolin (ca. 1657-1725) was a successful French engraver and cartographer known for his business acumen and aesthetic skills. Initially trained by Francois de Poilly, he was encouraged by Vincenzo Coronelli to start creating his own maps. Nolin's success came from leveraging his connections with notable cartographers like Coronelli, Jean-Dominique Cassini, and Jean Nicolas du Trallage, rather than producing original geographic work. Despite his misleading claims of prestigious titles, his maps were popular for their baroque and rococo styles. However, his career faced a major challenge when Guillaume De L'Isle sued him for copyright infringement in 1705, leading to a loss of scientific credibility. Nevertheless, Nolin remained commercially successful, and his son continued the family business by republishing his father's maps and creating new ones from their offices on Rue St. Jacques, Paris. (Inventory #: 322296)