Földvári Books

The Most Important Map in the History of Lebanon

[Gélis, Charles]; [Schièble, Erhard]; [Depot De La Guerre]

[Lebanon] Carte du Liban d'après les reconnaissances de la Brigade Topographique du Corps Expéditionnaire de Syrie en 1860–1861. Dressée au Dépôt de la Guerre Étant Directeur Le Général Blondel Sous Le Ministère de S. E. Le Maréchal Comte Randon 1862.

Paris: Imp. Lemercier, rue de Seine 57. (Gravée per Erhard Schièble rue Bonaparte 42), 1862. Color lithograph map in 16 sections mounted with linen. Bookseller’s vignette on verso (A. Corion Succ.r de H. Dorlin, Paris). 74 × 96.5 cm. Map somewhat tanned, with few stains and light foxing. Linen tanned, worn at the two outer foldings of the upper section. Overall in very good condition.

First edition of the most important map in the history of Lebanon, the first scientific map of the country. A highly detailed, separately issued, large-format lithograph scientific map of Lebanon “based on surveys conducted by French military topographers during their Lebanon-Syria Expedition of 1860–1861. This map defined the notion of ‘Greater Lebanon’, the basis for the creation of modern Lebanon in the wake of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Lebanon was at that time part of the Ottoman Empire. The cartographic part of the mission was headed by Captain Charles Gelis, who led teams that made advanced systematic, trigonometric surveys of the countryside, representing the first time that Lebanon had ever been accurately topographically mapped. Map extends into parts of Israel and Syria. Showing cities, towns, villages, Christian monasteries, mosques, fortified places, windmills, aqueducts, landmarks, roads, rivers, mountains, districts, which are labeled with their names. Includes Table of population. Relief shown by hachures, formlines and spot heights.” (David Rumsey Map Collection) The statistical table in the bottom right gives the population of the major towns and cities in Lebanon by religion. Scarce, no records on RBH.

Price: €7,500.00