Nicolas de Fer

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Nicolas de Fer (1646-1720).

Nicolas de Fer (* 1646; † October 25, 1720 in Paris ) was one of the leading French cartographers and map publishers of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Life

Nicolas de Fer was the youngest son of the Parisian printer and card publisher Antoine de Fer . At the age of twelve he began training as a copper engraver . After the death of his father in 1673, he took over his publishing house, which under his leadership grew rapidly within a few years. De Fer created numerous atlases and specialized in the publication of prints on current events: maps of borders or newly conquered areas as well as maps of cities that were developed by the French fortress builder Vauban . De Fer benefited from his good relationship with the French court and in 1691 became the official geographer of the French Dauphin , in 1702 of the Duke of Anjou - who later became King of Spain - and finally of the French king himself. The de Fers logo was the so-called "Sphère royale", an armillary sphere that appears on many of his publications. His main work, the Atlas Curieux , appeared for the first time in Paris in 1700 and saw numerous new editions by 1717. At his death in 1720 he had three married daughters. His sons-in-law, the paper merchant Guillaume Danet and the engraver Jacques-François Besnard (also: “Bénard”) continued the de Fers business - each for his own account.

Works (selection)

Catalog page with the Sphère Royale .
  • Les Côtes de France (1690)
  • La France Triomphante Sous le Règne de Louis le Grand (1693)
  • Atlas Royal (1695 and several editions between 1699 and 1702)
  • Petit et Nouveau Atlas (1697)
  • Atlas Curieux où le Monde représenté dans les cartes générales et particulières du Ciel et de la Terre (1700–1705 and many new editions up to 1717)
  • Atlas ou recueil de cartes geographiques dressées sur les nouvelles observations (1709 and numerous new editions)

Web links

Commons : Nicolas de Fer  - album with pictures, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Fer, Nicolas de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French cartographer and publisher
DATE OF BIRTH 1646
DATE OF DEATH October 25, 1720
Place of death Paris