This is the first English edition of Jean Palairet's map, which was printed by Thomas Bowles for Louis Delarochette. While the first French edition was published at the outset of the French and Indian War, this English edition was published at the conclusion of the war and illustrates the territorial changes, as noted in a table at bottom right. The English control Canada and the colonies extending to the Mississippi River, the Spanish control Mexico, California, and the Southwest, and France retains control of Louisiana in the center of the continent. The British colonies of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia are shown with their western boundaries on the Mississippi River, and Georgia occupies Florida's panhandle.

There is a considerable amount of spurious cartography to the west with regards to rivers, seas, and mountains. There are notations explaining that the source or course of several rivers is unknown. A long, conjectural River of the West nearly connects the Pacific Ocean to the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers via Pikes Lake and Mantons R. There is an east-west range of mountains below New Albion labeled the Sierras Nevadas or Snowy Mountains. Further north is a large Western Sea, which has only the western coastline delineated and the entrances are noted as discovered by Juan de Fuca and Aguilar. A river in the approximate location of the Colorado is called Martyr's R. The inter-mountain region is labeled Teguayo and Quivira, which is noted as "very little known." Near Hudson Bay is a note that states: "All of the bays & inlets on the west side of Hudson's Bay have been visited without appearance of success in the several attempt for the discovery of a North West Passage."

This map is quite rare on the market, especially this earlier, undated edition.

References: McGuirk #102; cf. Sellers & Van Ee #115; Stevens & Tree (MCC-39) #56(b).

Condition: B+

A nice impression with contemporary outline color, light toning and soiling, and the horizontal fold has been pressed and reinforced on verso. Remnants of hinge tape on verso.