Catalog Archive
Auction 145, Lot 80

"Carte d'Amerique Dressee pour l'Usage du Roy", Delisle/Covens & Mortier

Subject: Western Hemisphere - America

Period: 1739 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
23.5 x 18.8 inches
59.7 x 47.8 cm
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Guillaume Delisle's map of the Americas [1722] was one of the most popular maps of the 18th century with numerous editions published. Its various editions provide a great view of the evolving cartographic knowledge of the Americas throughout the eighteenth century. This is the fourth state, published in Amsterdam by Covens & Mortier with the addition of a Latin title at top; America Accurate in Imperia, Regna, Status & Populos Divisa. The detailed map of the Americas provides a great deal of information about the state of geographic knowledge in the New World in the early part of the century. In North America the western coast is blank above California. The French territory of Louisiane takes up the lion's share of North America at the expense of the British colonies. This political bias is due to Delisle's position as geographer to the King of France. South America is much better represented with good depiction of the river systems and locations of the Jesuit missions. According to Tooley, this 1739 issue is from a re-engraved plate which is basically unchanged from the 1722.

References: Tooley (Amer) p. 13, #4, plt. 2.

Condition: A

Original color on watermarked paper with couple of small, insignificant spots and a centerfold separation in bottom blank margin that has been closed with archival tape. There is a paper label from the Russian bookseller W. Klotschkoff on verso.

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,400

Unsold

Closed on 6/12/2013

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