SERVICE DES VAISSEAUX DE L'EMPEREUR ~ PILOTE DES ILES BRITANNIQUES de Jacques Nicolas Bellin, Jean-Rene de Verdun de la Crenne, Denis [Amiral] Decres, Charles-Francois Beautemps-Beaupre & after John Knight, Hamilton Moore, Murdo Downie, Joseph Huddart, Stuart Amos Arnold and others - 1757-1804

Paris: Depot General de la Marine, 1757-1804. Hardcover. Very Good. 20 1/2 in. X 25 1/2 in High. Full calf binding with 7 raised bands with gilt decoration on spine, gilt border on covers. Label on spine 'Les Iles Britanniques' now missing, gilt embossed title on front cover reads 'Service des Vaisseaux de L'Empereur'. Bound in are 30 copper engraved maps & one original ink drawing dating from 1757-1804. Probably bound in 1804 or 1805 in preparation of Napoleon's planned invasion of England, which was called off after other military set-backs. Many are French copies of British maps by John Knight etc. On the front paste-down a calling card of Mr. David B. Ogden 12 East. Tenth Street, is pasted in, with 'To be returned to & New York' added in ink. Above the card is written in ink 'Ex libris Richard Evans Esq.' David B. Ogden (1847-1923) was a lawyer who was president of the NY Bar Assoc. & collected a large library including Military History. Richard Evans was his father-in-law, who was from Philadelphia. Condition of the book is VERY GOOD; Covers & spine considerably scuffed and soiled, gilt lettering dull on cover, spine label missing, front & rear hinges cracking at gutter, a few of the maps have become detached from the stubs they were mounted on, others are partially detached. The condition of the maps themselves is very good, with very little soiling or staining and no foxing (any exceptions are noted in individual map listing). None of the maps are colored except the hand drawn one. Most are published by the Depot General de la Marine, Paris. More photos available on request.The maps, in order of binding-1) 'L'Ocean Atlantique ou Occidental' by Bellin 1786, revue et corrigee 1792 6th edition. 25 x 35 in. map with two 6 in. fold-out flaps of latitude & longitude, making the over-all size 25 x 46 in.2) 'Carte Reduite des Mers du Nord' by Verdun de la Crenne, 1776 25 x 38.3) 'Partie de la mer du nord' Tiree de la Carte Anglais Publiee par Cap. John Knight en 1803. This is an original ink drawing, with watercolor. 34 1/2 x 38 in.4) 'Carte Reduite des Costes de Flandres et de Hollande' by Bellin, 1763 25 x 38 in.5) 'Dunkerque' By Beautemps-Beaupre, an XI (1803) vertical format, 25 x 38 in. (fits together with map 6)6) 'Reconnaisance Hydrographique de la Cote Nord de la France, Rade de Dunkerque et ses environs' an XI (1803) vertical format, 25 x 387) 'Carte Reduite de la Manche' an VII (1799) Nouvelle Edition de L'an XI (1803) 25 x 38 in.8) 'Carte Reduite des Iles Britanniques, Premiere Feuille' by Bellin, 1757 25 x 38 in.9) Ibid, Seconde Feuille 175710) Ibid, Triosieme Feuille, 175711) Ibid, Quatrieme Feuille 175712) 'Plan au Port de Plymouth' Vice- Amiral Decres, an XII (1804) 18 1/2 x 23 Vertical format13) 'Plan de Tor-Bay, Babacon-Bay et de l'Entree de Dartmouth' Leve en 1790 par le Cap. J. Knight, Publie par Contre-Amiral Decres l'an XII (1804), 25 x 38 in. Vertical format.14) 'Carte de L'Isle de Wight et de la Cote Adjacents de Hampshire' apres Wm. Prince 1800 (Laurie & Whittle) Contre-Amiral Decres an XII (1804) 25 x 38 in.15) 'Carte du Passage des Needles & Carte des Environs de Portsmouth' Apres John Knight 1797 , Vice Amiral Decres l'an XII (1804) 25 x 38 in. Vertical format16) 'Carte de la Rade des Dunes' Vice-Amiral Decres An XII (1804), 18 1/2 x 25 in. Vertical format17) 'Cote Orientale D'Angleterre depuis South Portland, jusqu'a Lowestoft' Apres Hamilton Moore 1789, Depot de la Marine An VI (1798) 25 x 38 in.18) 'Cote Orientale D'Angleterre, depuis Loewstoft jusques et compris L'Embrouchure de L'Humber' Apres Hamilton Moore 1789, Depot de la Marine An VI (1798) 25 x 38 in.19) 'Cote Particuliere de la Cote Orientale D'Angleterre depuis le Cap Gibralter jusqu'au Golfe d'Edinburg' Apres Hamilton Moore 1789, Depot de la Marine An XII (1804) 25 x 38 in.20) 'Cote Particuliere d'Ecosse depuis St. Abb's Head - Duncansby Head' apres Murdo Downie, Vice-Amiral Decres An XII (1804) 25 x 38 in.21) 'Carte des Iles Orcades et de la cote nord d'Ecosse, depuis le Cap Wrath, jusqu'au Cap Duncansby' Apres Mackenzie, Vice-Amiral Decres, An XII (1804) 25 x 38 in.22) 'Carte Particuliere de la Cote Occidentale de L'Ecosse, depuis le Cap Wrath jusqu'a la Pointe d'Ardnamurchan' apres Cartes Anglais, Contre-Amiral Decres, An XII (1814) 25 x 38 in.23) 'Carte Particuliere de la Cote Occidentale d'Ecosse, depuis la Pointe Ardnamurchan jusqu'au Mull de Galloway' apres Cartes Anglais, Contre-Amiral Decres, an XII (1804) 25 x 38 in.24) 'Carte Reduite de l'Entre de la Mer d'Irlande et du Canal de Bristol' dressee pour le Service des Vaisseaux Francais, Grave par Houdan, an VI (1798) 25 x 38 in.25) 'Carte Particuliere du Canal de Bristol au Embouchure de la Severne' pour le Service des Vaisseaux Francais, grave par E. Collin, an VI 91798) 25 x 38 in.26) 'Carte d'Irlande, Divisee en Provinces et Comtes' uncredited, no date, 25 x 38 in. vertical format27) 'Carte des Cotes Occidentales d'Irland' apres Stuart Amos Arnold & M. Mackenzie, Contre-Amiral Decres, an XII (1804) 25 x 38 in. vertical format28) 'Carte Particuliere de la Cote Sud-Ouest d'Irlande depuis les Iles Saltees jusqu'a l'Embrouchure du Shannon' This title includes this map and the following map-- this map covers Les Iles Saltees to Clonekilty Bay. Apres Capt. Joseph Huddart, Contre-Amiral Decres, an XII (1804) 25 x 38 in. vertical format29) Untitled Chart--This map is a continuation of the previous map to the west--Clonekilty bay to the Mouth of the Shannon. 1804 Decres 25 x 38 in. vertical format30) 'Carte Particuliere de la Cote Ouest d'Irlande depuis Sligo jusqu'a l'Embrouchure du Shannon' apres Capt. Joseph Huddart, Contre-Amiral Decres An XII (1804) 25 x 38 in. vertical format.