This scarce finely engraved double hemisphere map by Charles-Pierre Boullanger is surrounded by a rococo frame in the elaborate French style. The unusual map is presented on a projection centered on the Tropic of Cancer for the Western Hemisphere and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Eastern Hemisphere. In North America, the northwest coast includes the conjectural geography of Philippe Buache with the Sea of the West (Mer de l'Ouest) and a Northwest Passage. Within the United States only a handful of cities are identified: Boston, New Orleans, Charleston, New York, Santa Fe, and F. Louis (Mobile, Alabama). In the Eastern Hemisphere, In the Eastern Hemisphere, Australia's southern coastline is conjectural and Tasmania is still attached to the mainland. Papua New Guinea also features stretches of speculative coast that suggest it is connected to New Britain. Novaya Zemlya has an incomplete coastline and is partially attached to the continent, as is Terre d Yesso (Hokkaido). Above the hemispheres, a figure holds up outstretched hands to a beam of light inscribed with the words Fiat Lux ("Let there be light"). Below the map are columns of French text. This is the fourth state, dated 1781 with the page number "1" at top right. Santini/Remondini would later publish their own edition of this map between 1776-84; examples of their edition are much more common on the market than the French edition.

References: McGuirk #25.

Condition: B

A sharp impression with contemporary outline color on watermarked paper. There is light scattered foxing and soiling and an archivally repaired 2" tear near Australia with an associated abrasion that stretches to Papua New Guinea. Minor extraneous creasing is located around the centerfold while several edge chips have been professionally repaired.