Amerique réduite d’après celle d’Arrowsmith, Champion 1828

📜 Description
Copper-engraved map depicting the entire American continent, extending from the Arctic regions to the southern extremity of South America, with wide inclusion of the surrounding Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The composition is structured on a regular geographic grid, with meridians and parallels clearly engraved, organizing the space according to a rigorous scientific framework. The title is contained within an oval engraved cartouche positioned in the lower central area, reading “Amerique, réduite d’après celle d’Arrowsmith…”, with reference to the authors and the Parisian editorial context.

The coastline is rendered with analytical precision, particularly along the North American profile, the Caribbean archipelago, and the South American coasts. The hydrographic network is clearly articulated, highlighting the principal river systems with linear and branching structures across both continents. The toponymy, in French, is dense and hierarchically organized, distinguishing regions, settlements, and major geographic features. Territorial boundaries are emphasized through hand coloring, delineating the principal political divisions of the period. The overall structure reflects a scientific approach derived from British cartographic models, reinterpreted within the French publishing milieu.

📚 Historical-Artistic Note
Aaron Arrowsmith ranks among the leading cartographers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, renowned for the accuracy of his maps based on up-to-date data from explorations and scientific surveys. His work became a foundational reference for modern cartography and was widely disseminated and adapted across Europe.

This engraving, produced by J. N. Champion and A. R. Fremin and published in Paris by H. Langlois, exemplifies the transmission and adaptation of British cartographic models within the French editorial context. Compared to contemporary production, this map stands out for the clarity of its grid structure, the legibility of its hydrographic network, and the orderly organization of its toponymy, positioning it among the most effective examples of the continental diffusion of scientific cartography derived from Arrowsmith’s models.

📖 Bibliography
See R.V. Tooley, “Maps and Map-Makers”
See P. van der Krogt, “Koeman’s Atlantes Neerlandici”
See studies on European cartography of the late 18th and early 19th centuries

🧾 Technical Sheet
Author: Aaron Arrowsmith (model)
Title: “Amerique, réduite d’après celle d’Arrowsmith… Par J.N. Champion… et A.R. Fremin… Paris”
Place of publication: Paris
Publisher: H. Langlois
Date: 1828
Technique: Copper engraving (etching)
Subject: American continent
Dimensions: sheet 61 × 78.5 cm; plate 60 × 76.5 cm
Condition: good overall condition

🔍 Condition Report
Map segmented and laid down on canvas according to contemporary practice. Structural folds visible along the joins, with light surface wear. Margins regular; engraved surface clear and overall well preserved.