Rare Variant of Sanson's Map of North America

"L'Amerique Septentrionale", Sanson, Nicolas

This is a rare variant of Sanson's map of North America, closely copied from P. Piskart's edition published circa 1695. California as depicted as an island with a flat northern coastline. The detached coastline to the northwest of California is named Terre de Iesso, rather than reflecting Sanson's earlier belief that it was an extension of the American continent. The northwest coast of North America extends well to the north of California. The R. de Nort drains into the Gulf of California from a large interior lake in the country of Les Apaches. The two western-most Great Lakes are left open-ended and Lake Erie remains unnamed. In contrast with Piskart's version, this example includes lines of longitude, a more decorative compass rose, a completed border around the title, and the page number "Tom. I. Pag. I." in the border at top right. Published in Paul Marret's Nouvelle Relation Contenant les Voyages de Thomas Gage dans la Nouvelle Espagne...

References: cf. McLaughlin #119.

Condition: B+

Issued folding on watermarked paper with light offsetting, one tiny hole at a fold intersection, and light toning along the edges of the sheet.