First issued in 1703, this richly detailed map provides the most accurate rendering of the Great Lakes of the time, with the lakes fully enclosed and properly placed in longitude and latitude. Delisle's map of Canada and the Great Lakes is one of the most outstanding and influential maps of the eighteenth century. Detroit marks its debut on this map, only two years after its founding. Delisle's cartography is very meticulous and adds new information from Joliet, Franquelin, and the Jesuit explorers. It correctly positions the Ohio River but confuses its name with the Wabash River. West of the Mississippi Lahontan's fictitious Riviere Longue is prominently depicted. In Canada special attention is given to the rivers and lakes between Hudson Bay and the St. Lawrence, and Lac de Assenipoils (Lake Winnipeg) connects to Hudson Bay. Sanson's three islands of the Arctic are retained. The exquisite cartouche with a beaver, natives, priest and friars, was engraved by Guerard. This is the second state of the map and remains essentially unchanged from the first edition.

References: Kershaw #318; Tooley (Amer) p. 20 #39.

Condition: A+

A fine, dark impression with original color and good margins. There are two tiny tears in left blank margin, far from map, that have been closed on verso with archival tape.