Lovely Geography Book by De Fer with California as an Island

"Introduction a la Geographie avec une Description Historique sur Touttes les Parties de la Terre", Fer, Nicolas de

Fine small geography containing maps of the world and continents and a great little title page featuring a world map showing the island of California. The maps are all folding and measure approximately 13" x 9" each:

A. Mappe-Monde ou Carte Generale de la Terre… Double-hemisphere world map surrounded by medallion portraits of important explorers. California is depicted as an island, the Great Lakes are not completely formed; nor are Australia, New Zealand and the northeast coast of Asia. The coastline of Korea, Roy.e de Coree, extends far to the east towards the Americas. Reference: Shirley #601.

B. L'Amerique, Meridionale et Septentrionale… Featuring the island of California covering the entire west coast north of the Tropic of Cancer with two large imaginary islands offshore. One of the prominent features in northern Mexico is Les Mine de S. Iean et de Ste. Barbe, the legendary Santa Barbara mines of the Chihuahua-Durango region. There are several large spurious lakes on both continents. A partial coastline of New Zealand appears beside the title cartouche. The map is richly decorated with three cartouches and a compass rose. This is the first state. References: Burden #759; McLaughlin #135.

C. L'Asie Suivant les Nouvelles Decouvertes… Fine map of Asia depicting a continuous land bridge extending from northern Korea and eastern Siberia across to the American Northwest, with a notation that explaining that the coastline is based on Portuguese maps, which are "completely different" from French maps. Finely engraved and embellished with three cartouches. Reference: Yeo #82.

D. L'Afrique Dressee Selon les dernieres… This map of Africa shows the correct source of the Nile but retains the two large twin lakes south of the Equator. Decorative title and dedication cartouches. Reference: Norwich #64.

E. L'Europe Suivant les Nouvelles Observations….. A lovely reduced version of De Fer's large map of Europe. Title in drape-style cartouche and dedication cartouche decorates the map. The map extends to include Asia Minor, the Middle East and the northern coastline of Africa.

F. La Sphere Artificielle… A nice engraving of a handsome set consisting of a celestial globe, armillary sphere, and a terrestrial globe.

Second edition. Two title pages - one dated 1716 and one dated 1717; 6 folding charts; 197 pp.; index. Original calf binding with raised bands and red leather title labels on spine.

References:

Condition: B+

The maps are issued folding and have some minor misfolding as well as professional paper repairs to short fold separations and binding tears. The world map has light dampstaining in the center of the image, and a couple of other maps have small, minor dampstains that do not distract. The text has minor toning and soiling. Both title pages have old manuscript ink notations from a previous owner. There is a bookplate on the inside front cover from French poet and politician Gustave Rivet (1848-1936). The front hinge is starting and the covers and spine are lightly worn, with some cracking along the edges of the spine.