Original 1757 Hand-Colored Chesapeake Bay Map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin | Copper Engraving | Custom Framed

An authentic hand-colored copperplate engraved map of the Chesapeake Bay, engraved by the renowned French Royal Hydrographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin and published in 1757. This finely engraved map depicts the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding portions of present-day Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the lower Susquehanna River watershed. The decorative title cartouche and period hand coloring make this an exceptional example of one of the most influential French cartographic works of colonial North America. Bellin's maps were prized for their accuracy and were widely used throughout Europe during the French and Indian War era. Today they remain highly sought after by collectors of early American maps, Chesapeake history, and coastal décor. Professionally conservation-framed using premium archival materials, this piece is ready to display. Beautiful wood frame, linen mat and UV-resistant glass. Dimensions: 19.5 x 17 inches. Great condition with expected light toning and minor age-related wear consistent with an original 18th-century engraved map.