This is the first state of Chatelain's reduced version of Nicholas De Fer's important four-sheet map of 1718. It is the most informative map of French possessions in North America in the early 18th century. Inset plan and view of Quebec is enclosed in a very decorative cartouche. Louisiana and the Mississippi valley is based on Delisle's manuscript map of 1701. The geography of New England and eastern Canada originates with Franquelin. Inset at top left is a large-scale map of the Mississippi delta and Mobile Bay, based on the voyage of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. The map is filled with wildlife, scenes of Indians hunting, Indian villages and notations, and the oceans are embellished with numerous ships, canoes and sea monsters. It was issued to promote the recently established 'Compagnie Francoise Occident', which was formed to fund the debt of Louix XIV and offered inducements to encourage settlement in Louisiana.

References: Verner and Stuart-Stubbs #11; Kershaw #332.

Condition: A+

Superb impression and condition.