Anville, Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d' [key], 1697–1782, French geographer and cartographer. His maps of ancient geography, characterized by careful, accurate work and based largely on original research, are especially valuable. He left unknown areas of continents blank and noted doubtful information as such; compared to the lavish maps of his predecessors, his maps looked empty. Anville became cartographer to the king, who purchased his maps, atlases, and other geographical material (the largest collection in France); Anville himself made more than 200 maps.
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