Nouvelle Mappe-Monde by Bailleur le Jeune

This map is from an engraving by Nicholas Bailleur who was the youngest of the Bailleur family of 18th Century French engravers. It is designed to show the current knowledge of the Earth and Solar System and is decorated with colourful allegorical illustrations. The many gaps in the Pacific and Antarctic regions show there was more known about the Solar System in the 18th Century than these areas.

The cut of the puzzle is quite loose so it is easy to fit 'wrong' pieces together by mistake, making it more challenging. Otherwise it has a rectangular format of 30 pieces x 20 pieces with no whimsies.

The puzzle comes in a book-type box and the pieces are contained in a draw-string canvas bag inside.

Artist: Bailleur, Nicholas (engraver)
Date: 1981
Brand: Optimago
Material: 3-ply wood
Nationality: British
Pieces: 600
Size: 23" x 16½" (59cm x 42 cm)
Theme: Maps
Title: Nouvelle Mappe-Monde