Books and Manuscripts

Paris: P. Mariette, 1651. First state. Engraved double-hemisphere map, with contemporary hand-colored outlining. 17 1/4 x 23 1/2 in. (438 x 597 mm). Old creasing; sheet unevenly toned; scattered spotting; scattered wear and darkening along edges. Shirley 390

First state of renowned French cartographer Nicolas Sanson's first map of the world. "Often regarded as the founder of the more precise and scientific French school of geography, Sanson eschewed unnecessary decoration to the point of plainness...The map is one of the first to distinguish the Great Lakes, all five not being named until Sanson's 1656 map of New France. Based largely on Jesuit reports, Lac Superior and Lac des puans ('Lake of Evil Smells' for Lake Michigan) are here introduced but Erie ou Du Chat, identified by Boisseau in a regional map of 1643 is not named. To the south the faint outline of Terra Magellanica is retained and Australia is only partially shown, still marked Beach. Names on the west and south coasts reflect Dutch discoveries there but the remaining coastline, falling sharply south-east, is entirely speculative. Van Dieman's land and New Zealand are omitted." (Rodney W. Shirley, The Mapping of the World, 1983). Further, California is depicted here as an island ('Californie. Isle.'), and Acoma and Santa Fe are listed in the Southwest of North America.