A unique mid-19th-century French manuscript historical atlas of Europe with large, folding, ornamented chronological charts of European rulers rendered on a most attractive circular design.
The manuscript begins with three sections addressing respectively the rulers and nobility of Belgium (independent only since 1830), France and England. Each section is composed of numerous simple, single-page charts and concludes with a large, folding chart of rulers rendered on an interesting circular design. A fourth folding chart, without accompanying text, presents the succession of Popes through the accession of Pius IX in 1846. Each chart gains much visual appeal from a central medallion bearing a map of the region in question and delicately-rendered foliate ornamentation, and the overall effect of each is faintly floral.
A fifth chart provides a summary of the foregoing, with small circular charts at each corner listing the rulers of Belgium, France, England and the Catholic Church. At the center is a modern map of Europe, while blank spaces are filled with panels listing didactic methods for correct learning of history, together with their definitions, such as: rhetoric, drawing, repetition, pronunciation, knowledge of the English language, &c.
The manuscript can be dated fairly tightly to 1846-48, as the list of Popes ends with Pius IX (reigned 1846-1878), and that of French rulers ends with Louise Philippe I (1830-48). The front board bears the name “Camille Deynoodt” in gilt. Penciled notes on the front free endpaper suggest that this was a Mlle. Deynoodt, “par la titulaire (?) du 1e plat”, but I see no evidence of this on the first chart. In any event, a Google search yields could not trace any information on her (or him).