"An Essay of a New and Compact Map, Containing the Known Parts of the Terrestrial Globe", Bellin, Jacques Nicolas

Bellin's popular world map is presented on Mercator's projection with two fine compass roses orienting the chart. North America is shown with a very pronounced River of the West connecting through a series of rivers and lakes from Lake Superior to the Pacific - representing the elusive Northwest Passage. A portion of the Asian coastline is depicted a short distance from the supposed western coast. The Russian discoveries in the North Pacific are not yet shown, although there is a note about the voyages of 1743. Able Tasman's new discoveries in New Zealand and Australia are shown. Australia is labeled Hollandia Nova with Nova Guinea linked to the mainland by the Carpentier coastline. Terre de Diemen, also labeled I. Tasman, is connected to the mainland by conjectural dotted lines. A large, decorative title cartouche completes the composition. Published by Peter de Hondt with titles in French and Dutch in lower margin.

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Condition: B+

Issued folding on heavy, watermarked paper. A binding trim at left has been repaired with old paper to better accommodate framing and an adjacent binding tear that enters 1.5" into the map image has been closed on verso with archival tape. Fold intersections have been reinforced with archival tape on verso.