"Les Isles Britanniques ou sont le Rme. d'Angleterre Tire de Sped Celuy d'Ecosse Tire de Th. Pont &c. et Celuy d'Irlande Tire de Petti...", Delisle, Guillaume

This is Delisle's influential map of the British Isles that was first published in 1702. It is based on the foremost authorities: Speed for England and Wales, Pont for Scotland, and Petty for Ireland. The bottom right shows the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France and at the upper right is the southern tip of Norway. The important fishing banks in the North Sea are prominently illustrated and De Kimmen ou le Borneur traces what is now known to be the edge of the European continental shelf. The note at lower left explains that Delisle doubts the existence of the islands of Brasil and Assmanda, which appeared on earlier maps. The large title cartouche incorporates mermen, fishing nets, sea birds and sea monsters and is surmounted by Neptune. Another decorative cartouche contains five distance scales flanked by hunting dogs. The map is engraved by J.B. Liebaux and the cartouche is engraved by C. Simonneau. This is the fourth state, published after January 1708, with Delisle's address changed to "le Quai de l'Horloge a l'Aigle d'Or."

References: Shirley (BI to 1750) Delisle 1.

Condition: A

A dark impression with contemporary outline color on a sturdy sheet with a large watermark of a Maltese cross encircled in rosary beads. There is light toning and foxing mostly confined to the edges of the sheet, and an archivally repaired centerfold separation at bottom.