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 imprint has Delisle's address at Quai de l'Horloge, published circa 1708 (Tooley state #3, Carhart & Edney state #6).

References: Carhart & Edney, Mercator's World v. 6, #4, pp. 44-49; Tooley (Amer) p. 18, #30; Wheat [TMW] #79.

Condition: B+

There is an old repair on the bottom half of the centerfold and some minor damp stains in the top margin.