Catalog Archive
Auction 187, Lot 112

Rare First State of French Map Showing Theater of War During American Revolution

"Carte Detaillee des Possessions Angloises dans l'Amerique Septentrionale…", Esnauts & Rapilly

Subject: Colonial Eastern North America & Caribbean

Period: 1777 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
29.8 x 20.5 inches
75.7 x 52.1 cm
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This rare and informative map shows the theater of war during the American Revolution, covering the eastern half of North America from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico and includes an inset of southern Florida, the Bahamas, and the Greater Antilles. Based on the great Mitchell map of 1755, it presents very good detail of the colonies, cities and towns, forts, roads, Indian villages and tribal territory, and along the coastlines it depicts shoals and banks. Georgia is oddly shaped and incorporates much of present-day northern Florida. North Carolina and Virginia are shown with their boundaries extending west off the map. The information regarding the Indian territories and trading paths west of the Appalachian Mountains is excellent. A military scene complete with cannon forms the title cartouche. This map was issued again in 1778 and 1779 with a title change (Carte Generale des Colonies Angloises, dans l'Amerique Septentrionale. Par M. Phelippeaux…) It is occasionally seen on the market in those editions. However, we know of only one other example of this edition that has been offered on the market for the past 25 years.

References: McCorkle #777.18; Sellers & Van Ee #150.

Condition: B+

Fine impression on a bright sheet with the watermarks of a small hut and "Richard Auvergne." Overall very good with very light foxing and soiling and a faint horizontal crease. There are archival repairs to a short centerfold separation at bottom and a marginal tear at top, both of which are confined to the blank margins.

Estimate: $3,750 - $4,500

Sold for: $2,750

Closed on 4/27/2022

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