Title of the plan:

"PLAN GENERAL DE LA MACHINE DE MARLY ET DE SES ENVIRONS Par de Fer 1716

A PARIS Dans l'Isle du Palais sur le Quay de l'Orloge a la Sphere Royale"


Antique copper engraved view of the machine de Marly, Marly Le Roi, near Paris, by Nicolas DE FER, 18th century.


This machine was a gigantic pumping system of the waters of the Seine intended for the hydraulic supply of the gardens of the Château de Marly and the park of Versailles. Built between 1681 and 1682, during the reign of Louis XIV by the master shipwright and mechanic of Liège, Rennequin Sualem, according to the plan of Arnold de Ville, it was inspired by the digging machines of the mines of Liège and Harz, which made it one of the most complex machines of its time. It functioned for 133 years, but never managed to supply the expected flow for long, and was replaced in 1817 by several more efficient successive pumps, until electro-pumps in 1968.



Nicolas De FER (1646-1720) is one of the famous geographe of 18th century. His earliest wellknown map of the canal de Languedoc, realised in 1669. 
In 1697, he published his first world atlas. 
In 1695, De Fer, with several other notable French mapmakers, became founding contributors to the French Bureau of Maps and Plans. 
This bureau, created to deal with the technical and strategic problems of overseas commerce and exploration, was part of the Royal Academy of Sciences’ Ministry of the Navy and Colonies. 




Size with margins : 42 x 28 cm / 16,5 x 11 inches

Condition : very good condition.

Edition : Paris, dated 1716, 18th Century.






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WE DON'T SELL LASER AND COPIES MAPS, ALL WE SELL IS ORIGINAL AND ANTIQUE

Due to the age an type of paper, some imperfections are to be expected. Please examine the images provided carefully, and if you have any questions please ask and we will be happy to help you