Hemisphere Occidental (1766) / Hemisphere Oriental (1766) Images 35x39cm, sheets 40x52,5 Set of two small-folio sized maps, made by Brion de la Tour, showing the Eastern and Western hemisphere. 1. Map showing North and South America. The map was issued during a time of controversy and confusion as to the true nature of the Pacific coast of North America. Desnos has here devised an interesting method to depict the conflicting theories. Philip Buache's concepts, including the mythical "Mer de l'Ouest" and "B. de l'Ouest' with its Northwest Passage, are engraved in faint hatchures and colored in yellow. While the ideas of Gerhard Freidrich Muller, which includes the fabled River of the West connecting through a network of lakes into both Lake Superior and Hudson Bay, are shown by dotted line and colored green. The oceans are filled with the tracks of the major explorations. 2. Map of the Eastern Hemisphere, showing still a rudimentary outline of most of the Australian coast, years before the expeditions of Thomas Cook would chart the region. The East coast of Australia is shown extending from Tasmania and joined to the Solomon´s and New Guinea as continuous unbroken coast. Two decorative maps from Brion De La Tour, one of the most prolific cartographic publishers of the mid 18th Century, with the deluxe decorative frame border which was added to the premium copies of this work. Published in ´Atlas général, civil et ecclésiastique, méthodique et élémentaire pour l'étude de la géographie et de l'histoire / Chez le sieur Desnos à Paris, 1767 Louis Brion De La Tour (fl 1756-1803) Beyond the fact that Brion was an engineer by profession and held the post of Ingenieur-Geographe du Roi, little is known of his career. He published a wide range of statistical works and a number of atlases, published by the well known French mapmaker Louis Charles Desnos (1725-1805). Excellent condition. Thick paper. Clear print. Original coloring. Ample margins. Reverse side blank. Total items: 2