"Map of the United States, Canada &c, intended to illustrate the Travels of the Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt", Rochefoucald Liancourt, Francois Alexander

This is a very uncommon and great map of the fledgling nation with numerous areas of interest. In New England, Maine is shown with a truncated northern boundary, reflecting the British view of the border dispute. Georgia's western boundary is the Mississippi River. The border with Florida, then a Spanish territory, is located on the 31st parallel and marked "Land Claimed by the United States". The proposed state of FRANKLINIA is located in eastern Tennessee. This 'state' of Franklin was formed in 1784 by a group of westerners, with John Sevier appointed as Governor. Due to some fascinating political intrigue, Franklinia was never recognized by Congress and eventually was re-annexed by North Carolina. The region west of the Mississippi River (present-day Missouri and Arkansas) is named MORGANIA. At the time, this region was Spanish territory. In an effort to protect New Orleans and trade on the Mississippi River, the Spanish employed the assistance of an American named Col. George Morgan to establish a colony in a vast tract of land opposite of the mouth of the Ohio River. The colony, also known as New Madrid, lasted but a short while, due to yet more political intrigue and to extensive flooding of the Mississippi. Much else of interest on this fascinating map. First state, engraved by Smith & Jones and published by R. Phillips.

References: Phillips (M) p. 873.2; The Map Collector, Vol. 72, Baynton-Williams, p.17, #11.

Condition: A

Folds reinforced with tissue on verso, bit of faint foxing in bottom margin barely intruding into border.