Rigobert Bonne Auction Prices and Value Guide

Rigobert Bonne auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 410 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Rigobert Bonne auction prices: quick answer

Rigobert Bonne auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Rigobert Bonne
Source records
410
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Rigobert Bonne

Rigobert Bonne (1727–1794) was a French cartographer, engraver, and etcher recognized as one of the most significant mapmakers of the late 18th century. Active during the height of the French Enlightenment, Bonne produced maps and charts that reflected the era's expanding geographic knowledge, including detailed coverage of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. He served as Royal Hydrographer to France, a role that placed him at the center of official marine cartography. His work appeared in influential atlases and contributed to the Encyclopédie edited by Denis Diderot and Jean-Baptiste d'Alembert. Bonne is also known for developing the Bonne map projection, a modified conic projection that remained in use for decades. Collectors encounter his engraved maps frequently at auction, where they are valued as representative examples of Enlightenment-era French cartography.

18th-century French cartography and Enlightenment geographyengravingetchingcopperplate printingworld and regional mapsnautical chartsatlases

Common works and media

Bonne's output consists primarily of copperplate-engraved maps, including world maps, continental maps, regional charts, nautical maps, and city plans. Many were published as folding plates in atlases or as contributions to the Encyclopédie. Collectors may also encounter bound atlas volumes containing multiple Bonne maps. Common subjects include the coastlines and interiors of the Americas, European kingdoms, African territories, and Asian regions, often rendered with decorative cartouches and hand-applied color. Individual sheet maps typically measure in the quarto or folio range.

Market and appraisal context

Rigobert Bonne's maps appear regularly in the antiquarian map and atlas market. Most individual engraved sheets sell in a modest range, reflecting the relatively large print runs of his atlases. Value is influenced by the region depicted, the quality of the copperplate impression, the presence and condition of contemporary hand-coloring, and whether the map is from a rare or early edition. Maps showing the Americas, the Pacific, and other regions explored in the late 18th century tend to attract stronger interest. Condition factors such as foxing, centerfold wear, and marginal repairs directly affect appraisal outcomes. Provenance linking a map to a notable collection can also increase its value.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Bonne maps were printed in considerable numbers across multiple atlas editions; most individual sheets are modestly valued unless unusually rare or in exceptional condition.
  • Attribution can be complicated by posthumous re-issues and later editions bearing Bonne's name; confirm imprint date and publisher.
  • Market data in this research comes from limited public biographical sources rather than a comprehensive auction-record survey.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Rigobert Bonne

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Rigobert Bonne worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Rigobert Bonne artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.