Catalog Archive
Auction 112, Lot 146

"Carte de la Louisiane et du Cours du Mississipi Dressee sur un Grand Nombre de Memoires entrautres sur ceux de Mr. le Maire", Delisle, Guillaume

Subject: Colonial United States

Period: 1718 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
26 x 19.5 inches
66 x 49.5 cm
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This enormously influential map of the French possession of Louisiana drew together the cartographic work of the previous half century and had a tremendous impact on the history of cartography. The map was designed for the political purpose of invalidating the English claims west of the Appalachian Mountains and laid claim to Carolina, which provoked an angry English response. However, it is the cartography of the Mississippi valley for which the map is notable today. It was the first detailed map of the Gulf region and the Mississippi, and the first to show the explorations of De Soto, Cavelier, Tonty, Moscoso and Denis. The name Texas made its first appearance in print on this map, with the legend Mission de los Teijas, that was established in 1716. Includes a detailed inset of the Mississippi delta and Mobile Bay. This is the important first issue, without New Orleans.

References: Cumming #170; Wheat (TMW) 99; Tooley (Amer) p.21,#43; Martin & Martin #19.

Condition: B

Lightly toned. Remargined at top with facsimile of neatline and margin extended (unnecessarily) at bottom - apparently for a previous binding.

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Sold for: $4,750

Closed on 9/28/2005

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