This historically important foundation map made three significant contributions to the cartography of North America. It was the first map to revert back to the peninsular form for California, even before the publication of Kino's report. Although on close inspection one can see a small gap at the head of the Gulf of California, leaving open the possibility that California might still be an island. Delisle's second contribution to North American cartography was a more accurate rendition of the Great Lakes region. Third, Delisle corrected the position of the lower Mississippi River, moving the mouth of the river from an area near Galveston Bay to a more correct location in Louisiana. The English settlements are confined east of the Allegheny Mountains, French forts and settlements are located throughout Louisiana and Spanish forts are clustered around Santa Fe. The first mention of what would be called the Sargasso Sea is noted in the North Atlantic. The map is decorated with an aquatic-themed figural cartouche and a draped scale of miles. This sixth state of the original plate engraved by N. Guerard was published circa 1708. Erasures of Renard's imprint can be seen below the title cartouche.

References: Mercator's World Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 44-49; Tooley (Amer) p. 19, #30; Wheat [TMW] #79; Burden #761.

Condition: B

Contemporary outline color on a moderately toned sheet with a watermark of a Maltese cross encircled in rosary beads. There is an archivally repaired edge tear at bottom that extends 1.5" into the image, some minor staining, and a printer's crease adjacent to the upper centerfold.