1690 – G. Sanson – Amerique Septentrionale
Title: “AMERIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE Par N. SANSON Geographe Ord. du Roy. Reveuë et changée en plusieurs endroits suivant les Memoires les plus recents augmentée et corrigée en cette seconde edition Par G. SANSON Geogr. Ordinaire du Roy. A PARIS Chez PIERRE MARIETTE rue S.t Jacques a l’Esperãce Avec privilege de sa Maj.té pour 20. ans. 1690” Description: A very rare, second state, antique map of North America, originally produced in 1650 by the French cartographer Nicolas Sanson. The map is famous for introducing several cartographic “firsts” and for its unique depictions of North American geography. It is one of the most prominent early maps to depict California as a large island (labeled Californie) rather than a peninsula, a misconception that persisted for over a century. This was the first printed map to delineate all five Great Lakes in a recognizable form. It is also the first to specifically name Lake Superior and Lake Ontario. It marks the first appearance on a map for the Apache, Navajo, and Taosij (Taos) people in the Southwest. The map includes early mentions of Montreal (as Mon Royal), Santa Fe, and Nouvelle Amsterdam (modern-day New York City), as well as the short-lived Swedish colony N. Suede. The map utilizes a sinusoidal projection (sometimes called the Sanson-Flamsteed projection), demonstrating the era’s advancing scientific acumen. Sanson relied heavily on first-hand accounts, particularly the Jesuit Relations, which were detailed annual reports from missionaries in New France published in Paris. Comes from Guillaume Sanson atlas “Cartes generales de toutes les parties du monde, ou les empires, monarchies, republiques, estats, peuples, &c. de l’Asie, de l’Afrique, de l’Europe, & de l’Americque, tant anciens que nouveaux, sont exactement remarqués, & distingués suivant leur estendue. Par le Sieur Sanson d’Abbeville, Geographe ordinaire du Roy” engraved by Jean Somer, published by Pierre Mariette in Paris 1690. Cartographer: Guillaume Sanson (1633-1703) Sheet size: 66,2 x 48,2 cm Year: 1690 Technique: copper engraving Condition: Good condition. Contemporary outline coloring. Watermarked paper. This is an original antique map published in 1690 and NOT a modern copy or reprint On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity