L'Europe

Map of the continent of Europe from the Atlas Curieux, reduced from de Fer's larger map.

De Fer (1646-1720) was the son of a prominent engraver and produced his first map in 1669. He joined his father's business in 1673 and ultimately took over in 1687. He was a prolific map maker who produced over six hundred separate maps in multiple forms; as separate issues, bound within history and travel books, and as atlases. In the late 17th century he was made Geographer to the Dauphin.

De Fer's maps of the continents are reduced from his folio maps which in turn were derived from his wall maps of the world and continents which he issued as separated publications in the decade of the 1690s. The map of Europe from this set dates to 1695.

One feature which the wall map does lack is the marking of the Prime Meridian as decreed by Louis XIII in 1634 which is set in the Isle de Fer of the Canary Islands. [EUR1557]