Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases and Globes for Sale at Auction

This scarce map exhibits some speculative cartography on the Pacific coast of North America. A huge Mer ou Baye de l'Ouest dominates the northwest coast, but a tentative coastline also reflects the Russian discoveries in the region. The large inset map illustrates the theories of Joseph Delisle and Philippe Buache concerning the potential Northwest Passage and the Sea of the West. In the Pacific, the tracks of early explorers are shown, including Quiros, Mendana, Le Maire, Magellan, and Antoine. This is one of the scarcest of all maps illustrating the Sea of the West.

Partially colored in outline. The impression in the map is a bit weak, else fine.


Ref: McGuirk #123.