France - D'Iberville (French naval aviso), Marseille / Port-de-Bouc; Société Anonyme des Chantiers et Ateliers de Provence, Marseille - Port-de-Bouc - Atlas de la coque - 1921-1950

Atlas de la Coque – D’Iberville (1929)
Technical construction atlas of the French naval aviso

Rare original, complete, large folio shipbuilding atlas prepared for the construction of the French naval vessel D’Iberville, an aviso de 2000 T.W pour campagnes lointaines (2000-ton colonial service vessel) built for the Marine Nationale. The atlas was produced in 1929 by Société Anonyme des Chantiers et Ateliers de Provence of Marseille – Port-de-Bouc, one of the important French naval shipyards of the early 20th century.

The work contains detailed engineering and construction plans of the hull and internal structure, issued as “Plans conformes à l’exécution”, meaning plans conforming to the final execution of the ship. It includes a large set of technical plates showing the vessel in remarkable detail: longitudinal sections, deck plans, hull structure, mechanical installations, armament arrangements, piping systems, electrical installations, ventilation systems, and numerous structural details required for construction.

The plates are printed in large format and many are folding technical drawings, typical of naval engineering documentation of the period. These plans illustrate the complexity of interwar naval design and provide valuable documentation of French colonial naval vessels. The largest foldout plans are over 3 meters long.

Such original shipyard atlases were produced in very limited numbers for engineers and naval authorities, making surviving examples uncommon on the market. Today they are sought after by collectors of maritime history, naval architecture, and industrial design.

A fascinating and scarce naval engineering atlas documenting the design and construction of a French Navy ship from the interwar period.

Title: Marine Nationale – D’Iberville. Aviso de 2000 T.W pour campagnes lointaines – Atlas de la Coque

Publisher: Société Anonyme des Chantiers et Ateliers de Provence

Place: Marseille – Port-de-Bouc

Date: 1929

Atlas size: 76,0 cm x 55,0 cm x 6,0 cm

Weight: 15kg

Condition:

Atlas in used condition consistent with a working technical volume. The binding shows wear and damage to the spine, and the covers exhibit water staining. Plates remain complete with large fold-out technical drawings; some age toning, occasional stains and handling marks present.