Eight maps of Paris from Traité de la police
The chronological series of eight maps of Paris from "Traité de la police" ("Treatise on the Police") is among the earliest attempts to illustrate historical change with maps and shows the growth of Paris from Roman times up to 1705, the year of publication. By the 19th century, critics recognized that the maps were replete with historical inaccuracies. Description. The four-volume "Traité de la police" by Nicolas de La Mare (1639–1723), a Paris magistrate ("commissaire") who specialized in urban problems and services, is a pioneering work of urban administration. The  eight maps were included in the first volume, published in 1705, to accompany a discussion of the historical basis of the plans. The three subsequent volumes were published in 1710, 1719, and 1738. Each map is about 44 x 55 cm with a similar layout and scale (approximately 1 to 9,500). Goffart states that, although the authorship of the maps is not certainly established, "notwithstanding dissent", Antoine Coquart (1668–1707) likely designed and engraved the first seven maps, using information and materials provided by La Mare, while Nicolas de Fer was the engraver of the eighth, which was based on a  contemporary city map. The maps proved popular and were frequently reproduced and sold. Goffart believes that about 1715, de Fer copied the entire set of eight and published them by his own name, and is therefore sometimes credited as the sole author. By the 19th century critics recognized the many errors in the maps and sometimes described them as "fanciful" and "imaginary". List of maps. The titles of the eight maps are: Ninth map in volume 4. After Nicolas de La Mare's death in 1723, a ninth map was added to volume 4, which appeared in 1738. The preparation  of the ninth map was carried out under Abbé Jean Delagrive (1689–1757). There are three known versions of the map dated 1733, 1735, and 1737. On the map the name of the author of vol. 4 is given as "M. L. C. D. B." [Monsieur Anne-Louis Le Cler Du Brillet]. His name also appears as the signature at the end of the 'Epistre' [modern spelling: épître, preliminary letter of dedication] to that volume.