"La Floride", Sanson, Nicolas
Subject: Colonial Southern United States
Period: 1738 (circa)
Publication: Curieus Aenmerckingen der Bysonderste Oost en West-Indische
Color: Hand Color
Size:
9.9 x 6.9 inches
25.1 x 17.5 cm
This influential map shows the Spanish and French possessions in the southern part of the United States. The map extends from the southernmost part of Virginia to the coast of what is now Texas. When first introduced by Sanson in 1657, this map was the first to use the name L. Erie in an atlas and to introduce several new rivers in Virginia. The French claims in the Carolinas are reasserted with the region named Floride Francoise, despite the region not having had any French presence for nearly 100 years. The place name Caroline is not related to the future English colony of Carolina. Instead it is a confusion between the French Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River, and Charlefort that was located near Port Royal. According to Burden, this is the fifth state of the map with plate number 261 at upper right.
References: Burden #546; Cumming (SE) #53; Pastoureau, SANSON II F.
Condition: A
An attractive example with a hint of toning and light soiling confined to the blank margins. Remnants of paper tape on verso along the top edge of the sheet.
