DÉPÔT GÉNÉRAL DE LA MARINE. Collection of 211 hydrographic charts. Paris, 1780-1849. Very good overall condition. All the charts are on strong paper, sometimes slightly yellowed, slight foxing, some ink transfers on the double plates. The maps are in broadsheet format. Double maps (with margins) measure on average 69 x 102 cm, single maps 51 x 70 cm. Some maps are in folio format. Important collection of hydrographic charts published by the Dépôt général de la Marine in the 19th century. These charts were used to illustrate the great circumnavigation voyages carried out by French navigators (1787-1839), such as Louis Freycinet's voyage and those of Dumont d'Urville, as well as the hydrographic missions carried out in all regions of the world. The Dépôt général de la Marine or Dépôt des cartes et plans de la marine was created on 19 November 1720, and is the oldest official hydrographic service in the world. This important collection of 211 hydrographic charts retraces 50 years of French exploration in all parts of the world, in North and South America, Africa and Reunion Island, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. The Grands Voyages are illustrated by maps by Vincendon-Dumoulin for Dumont-D'Urville's "Voyage au Pôle Sud et dans l'Océanie", but there are also maps produced for the voyages of Lapérouse, Freycinet, Duperrey, Dupetit-Thouars, etc. The maps are dated between 1780 and 1849 and, despite their large format, are in very good condition. List of maps on request. Lot appraised by Mrs Béatrice Loeb-Larocque.