Engraved map, color, the cartouche is uncolored. 44.5x58.5 cm. (17½x23½").
Peter Schenk's reissue of one of the most influential maps of North America, laying the groundwork for much of the cartography of the 18th century, first published in 1700, of which Tooley writes "A foundation map. The Great Lakes based on Coronelli showing the French strong points at Tadousac, Quebec, Fort Sorel, Montreal & Fort Frontenac.... In this map De l'Isle corrected longitude positions and was the first to revert to a peninsula form for California. He stops his western coast at Cape Mendocin. The first printed map to show the Sargasso Sea."
Further Notes from the Files of Warren Heckrotte
Full title: L'Amerique Septentrionale. Dressée sur les Observations de Mrs. de l'Academie Royale des Sciences, & quelques autres, & sur les Memoires des plus recent Par G. De L'Isle Geographe. a Amsterdam Chez Pierre Schenk, sur le vygendam, a l' Atlas de Sanson. Avec Privilege 1708. | Echelle [linear scales] | Advertissement --- |
The advertissment notes that there are many things on this map that are different from what has been found on maps up to now. This is not by accident and the reasons for the changes are given in the author's la Nouvelle Introduction a la Geographie. This map was first issued by DeLisle in Paris in 1700. Of particular interest is his representation of California. He drew it so that it was ambiguous as to whether it is an island or a penisula. This is explained in a letter by DeLisle's father written about 1700, which is reproduced in Bernard's Recueil du Voyages au Nord, vol. 3.
Radford, Cat 27, 1/81 states that this map is very scarce.
Provenance: A Montparnasse, Genève, 7/77
References: Tooley p.19; (Wagner NW Coast 459; Wheat Transmississippi 79).