The collaboration with the Sanson family
Alexis-Hubert Jaillot entered the world of cartography through his marriage to Jeanne Berey, daughter of the publisher Nicolas I Berey. Upon the death of his brother-in-law Nicolas II Berey in 1667, he took over the management of the map collection. He then forged a close collaboration with the sons of Nicolas Sanson of Abbeville, Guillaume and Adrien Sanson. This association allows him to redraw and update the works of the famous geographer of the King for publication in prestigious formats.
The New Atlas and major publications
Jaillot's major work was the publication, beginning in 1692, of the "New Atlas Containing All Parts of the World." This monumental work is distinguished by the quality of its engravings and the elegance of its cartouches. Among his other notable achievements are the "Geo-Hydrographic World Map" (1699), the "Kingdom of France Divided into Parliaments" (circa 1690), and the "Special Map of the Post Offices of France," published in 1695. He also collaborated with the Dutch merchant Pieter Mortier, founder of the Covens & Mortier company, to disseminate his work throughout Europe.
A family and institutional legacy
Appointed Geographer to the King, Jaillot amassed a significant fortune, his estate in 1714 being valued at 27,920 livres tournois. His work was continued by his son, Bernard-Jean-Hyacinthe Jaillot (1673-1739), and then by his grandson, Bernard-Antoine Jaillot. The lineage continued with Jean Baptiste-Michel Renou de Chauvigné, known as Jaillot. His catalogue includes numerous maps dedicated to prominent figures, such as Louis de Lavergne-Monténard de Tressan and Gilles de Bauvau, Bishop of Nantes.
