"Dictionnaire Geographique-Portatif, ou Description des Royaumes, Provinces, Villes, Patriarchats...", Didot, Firmin

This French geographical dictionary contains two folding maps of Europe (7.4 x 6.0") and the world (13.2 x 8.8"). The very interesting world map is a reduced version of Isaak Brouckner's map and includes a collection of Northwest Passage theories, including one based on the infamous expedition by Admiral Bartholomew de Fonte. In 1708, a newly discovered account of the Spanish Admiral's 1640 discovery of the passage was published. That account was actually a journalistic hoax, but thereafter the account was changed and elaborated upon by numerous mapmakers. This map shows one Northwest Passage from Baffin Bay to exit at roughly Alaska, and another from the St. Lawrence through the Great Lakes and out via the massive and utterly spurious Sea of the West (Mer ou Baie de l'Ouest). The large fictional lakes from De Fonte's account include Velasco, de Fonte, and the strange archipelago of St. Lazare. In the North Pacific, the routes of the Russian expeditions and the Manilla/Alcapulco galleons are charted. In the South Pacific, the partial coastlines of Australia and New Guinea are shown connected, and both New Zealand and Tasmania are shown as single coastlines. The map is engraved in an unusual and simple style, and titled on a banner style cartouche. 668 pages, hardbound in original full leather with gilt title, embossing, and raised bands on spine.

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Condition: B+

Both maps have strong, dark impressions. The world map has a 2" binding tear at right closed on verso with archival tape and is no longer bound in the book. The smaller map of Europe has a little printer's ink residue in the bottom left corner. Text is clean and bright. Spine has some light cracking and the covers have only minor wear.