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Alexis Hubert Jaillot after Nicholas Sanson "Amerique Septentrionale." Paris: A. H. Jaillot, 1694-[1719]. 18 x 25 1/4. Engraving by Cordier. Original outline hand color. Good margins. Strong impression. Stamped "116" in upper left corner. Ref.: McLaughlin, 55, iii.
Jaillot, in re-engraving and publishing the then less widely known work of his compatriot Nicolas Sanson, brought French cartography forward to compete with the hitherto unchallenged work of the Dutch. Sanson's design, which this map is based on, was the first to show all five Great Lakes, and this reflects Sanson's concern to obtain as current information as was available. This map closes the western shores of the Great Lakes. Still, many geographic misconceptions were prevalent at the time, and these are well illustrated here. Most noticeable is the depiction of California as an island, though the north coast of Baha Bay is almost closed and the northern Pacific coast abruptly ends. This configuration shows that the island theory is coming into doubt in Europe. The legendary cities of Cibola and Quivira are still depicted in the interior of the continent. To the north central part of the continent the map gives a strong hint at the existence of a northwest passage out of Hudson's Bay. The depiction of the Mississippi River shows that information used by Delisle in his 1718 map of the continent had not reached the mapmaker. With its attractive cartouches, and curious mixture of accurate and illusionary geography, this is much a map of its time. $2,600
Herman Moll. "A New Map of the North Parts of America claimed by France..." London: H. Moll, 1720. 23 7/8 x 40 1/4. Engraving. Original outline color. With small bits of missing surface at bottom of side folds. Expertly conserved and otherwise, very good condition.
Herman Moll, a Dutch émigré to England after 1680, established his own business and became England's most prominent map publisher. This map of North America was of great significance in the cartographic war waged between France and England at a critical time in the struggle for empire on the continent. Moll used it to respond to Guillaume Delisle's 1718 map, which proved to be a powerful statement for French claims west of the Alleghenies and even in Carolina. Moll notes in the title cartouche of his map that he is inserting the French boundary delineations so that "Noblemen, Gentlemen, Merchants &c. who are interested in our Plantations in those Parts" could come to their own conclusions regarding these French "Incroachments" on the English lands and those of their Cherokee and Iroquois Indian allies.
Still, Moll admits his dependence upon Delisle's map for much of his geographic information, particularly in the southwest and lower Mississippi Valley regions. But Moll had other sources for the southeast, especially an unsigned and undated manuscript map notable for its accurate depiction of the Carolina back country. This manuscript, possibly by the "Mr. Berisford" mentioned in the title cartouche, gave Moll valuable information on Indian tribes, trading routes, Spanish, French and English forts and settlements, rivers, etc., that is found on no other printed map. Moll includes a few interesting comments in the region that is today Texas, stating "Many Nations on ye heads of this Branches who use Horses and Trade with the French and Spanjards."
Moll has added a beautiful baroque cartouche in which he dedicates the map to Thomas Bromsall. There are insets of Annapolis Harbor and the mouths of the Mississippi and Mobile Rivers, as well as an attractively engraved inset of "The Indian Fort Sasquesahanok," located, according to Moll, 30 miles west of Philadelphia. That location, he points out, marked a political boundary between French and English possessions on the Delisle map of 1718. For its political importance in the cartographic war between the European powers in the New World, for its wealth of information on geographical and settlement features, and for its strong decorative appeal, this map is an important historical document and a true collector's item. $6,600
John Senex. "A New Map of the English Empire in America..." London: J. Senex, 1721. 19 3/4 x 23 3/8. Engraving by J. Harris.. Original outline color. Remargined top and bottom and top left corner replaced, just affecting border. Soft creases at sides. Overall, very good condition.
A wonderful map of the English colonies in North America covering from the east coast to the Mississippi. Issued in Senex's 1721 Atlas, the was a "revised" version of the famous Morden-Browne map of about 1695, printed by Senex with a few modifications, including a new dedication. The map depicts as comprehensive a look at the British colonies as was available in the early 18th century. The borders of the different grants, rivers, and many early towns are indicated from Nova Scotia to Carolina, which is shown extending down to the Florida peninsula. No western border is indicated, though the "Apalitean mountains" form a natural border.
While the colonies are well mapped, the map contains much curious and unusual geography for the middle of the continent. It contains a most unusual configuration for the Great Lakes; Lake Erie narrows to a fraction of its full width in the middle, and Georgian Bay forms a long, spike-like heel off Lake Huron. The Mississippi River is relatively accurately drawn running up the middle of the continent, but there is no Ohio River extending into Pennsylvania from the west. This is because the river that is probably meant to represent the Ohio is blocked by a curious mountain range that runs from the tip of the Michigan peninsula down all the way to Florida, with one branch mid-way down running westward towards the Mississippi, and the "Apalitean" range running off to the northeast. This mountain range was originally introduced by Morden-Brown. It is clearly an outgrowth of the Appalachian Range, but incorrectly drawn so that the mountains extend down into Florida, west to the Mississippi and north into the Michigan peninsula. The western branch may be a remnant of the range of mountains across the continent that appeared on the Chiaves map based on reports from the de Soto expedition. The branch into Michigan is further of interest because of the legend along side that says "On the top of these mountains is a Plaine like a Terras Walk aboue 200 miles in length." This range and its terrace walk have no known source, but it had great influence. The connection of the Michigan chain with the Appalachian range was soon severed, but vestiges of the mountains in the peninsula appeared on maps even into the nineteenth century. In the bottom right corner is an inset map showing the American continent in relation to Europe and Africa, and just above is a smaller inset plan of Boston Harbor. $3,200
John Mitchell. "Amerique Septentrionale avec les Routes, Distances en miles, Villages et Etablissements Francois et Anglois." Paris: G.L. Le Rouge, 1756. Engravings. Eight sheets, each ca. 26 x 18 3/4. Original outline hand color. Full margins. Very good condition. Stephenson: second French edition, first impression.
An early French edition of the historically most significant map of North America, issued just a year after the first British edition. John Mitchell was commissioned by the Earl of Halifax, the president of the Board of Trade and Plantations, to produce a map defining British claims in North America. The resulting document was very much a propaganda statement, arguing for British control of most of the continent. Mitchell shows British claims to their most extreme extent, foreshadowing the future, for just seven years later the French were defeated and the British gained control of the entire eastern half of North America.
Cartographically the map is excellent, for Mitchell gathered as current and precise information as was available to him. He had access to much manuscript and documentary information, all of which he carefully laid down on this huge, detailed map. With its precise cartography and impressive size, this map had an immediate and significant impact when issued. It was universally accepted as the best depiction of North America from its first appearance right through to the end of the century, and from this comes its historic importance. It was used as the primary political document of America, called upon whenever a border dispute came up. When the negotiations to end the Revolution were concluded in Paris in 1783, it was Mitchell's map upon which the border between Canada and the United States was described, and it was used subsequently in numerous border disputes right into the early twentieth century. This map became in effect the 'official' map of North America during the last half of the eighteenth century and even into the nineteenth, as evidenced by the fact that the map hung in Congress in 1802.
This French edition was published by G.L. Le Rouge just a year after the first edition of 1755. This testifies to the impact of this map, for not only was this very quick to issue an accurate re-engraving of such a large map, but it is interesting that the French would publish a map which had such a British bias. Scarce and impressive, this is an historic document of great importance. $24,000
After John Mitchell. “Nieuwe Kaart van de Grootbrittannische Volkplantingen in Noord America.” Amsterdam: Isaak Tirion, [1755]. 14 1/4 x 17 3/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition.
A wonderful map of the situation in North America at the beginning of the French & Indian War. In the early part of the eighteenth century, the trans-Appalachian region of North America remained much as it had been for the preceding centuries. Some trappers and backwoodsmen—Frenchmen from Canada and Englishmen from the British colonies—traveled through its woods and rivers, but the principal occupants of the region were Native Americans and a great diversity of wildlife. As the British colonies became more populated and prosperous, their citizens began to look towards the rich lands across the Appalachian mountains as providing new opportunities for settlement and economic growth. The French, who claimed the entire watersheds of the Mississippi and St. Lawrence Rivers—which included the Great Lakes and the Ohio River valley—became worried about British encroachments into this region and so they moved to set up a series of forts in the area, a move countered by the British with their own forts. In 1754 this conflict resulted in fighting in western Pennsylvania, and this escalated the following year, leading to a declaration of war in 1756.
This map is dated right at the beginning of this conflict, though it was not issued in an atlas until 1769, and it nicely illustrates the nature of the French & Indian War. The British colonies along the Atlantic coast are highlighted in green, while the French in the North are shown in yellow and West of the Mississippi in green. The region in between, the area of conflict, is shown in a red shade, graphically presenting the heart of the war. Details of rivers, settlements, and some orography are presented, including precise delineations of the forts of both the French and English in the disputed territories. This information is based on John Mitchell’s great map of North America, issued the same year, which was by far the best picture of North America available at the time. As a contemporary, detailed and accurate snapshot of America at the beginning of this important war, this is a most desirable map. Its attractive presentation is a wonderful bonus. $1,600
Matthew A. Lotter. "Carte Nouvelle de l'Amerique Angloise." Augsburg, ca. 1760. 23 1/2 x 19 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Repaired tear into neatline at top. Some waviness to paper and two small spots. Overall, very good condition.
A decorative German map showing the British colonies during the period between the French & Indian War and the American Revolution. Each colony is indicated with a contrasting color and is named in the title cartouche. Interior information, including Indian tribal lands, is detailed and fascinating. $1,600
Jean Janvier. "L'Amerique Septentrionale divisée en ses principaux États." Paris: Jean Lattré & J. Thomas, 1762. From Atlas Moderne. 12 x 17 3/4. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
Jean Janvier was a French cartographer who worked in Paris in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Among his output were some fine maps which appeared in Jean Lattré's Atlas Moderne. This atlas contained maps of all parts of the world engraved by Lattré, the "Graveur Ordinaire du Roi." Janvier's maps contained the best information available at the time, even though some of it was erroneous. This map of North America is a good example of this, for the information on the coastlines, islands, rivers, major cities is all excellent, yet the map features a large, non-existent lake, "Mer ou Baye De l'Ouest" in the Pacific Northwest. This large lake was a result of the mistaken belief in a Northwest Passage through the interior of the continent, and this depiction is a classic of this cartographic myth. Janvier shows the political division of the colonies of Spain, France and England, interpreted from the French point of view. The map has an elaborate and lovely title cartouche that graces the lower left corner. A wonderful map of America from the period of the French & Indian War. $575
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