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 English settlements are confined east of the Allegheny Mountains, French forts and settlements are located throughout Louisiana and Spanish forts are clustered around Santa Fe. The first mention of what would be called the Sargasso Sea is noted in the North Atlantic. The map is decorated with an aquatic-themed figural cartouche and a draped scale of miles. This is the fourth state of the original plate engraved by N. Guerard with Renard's imprint below the title cartouche, published circa 1707.

References: Mercator's World (Vol. 6, No. 4) pp. 44-49; Tooley (Amer) p. 19, #29; Wheat [TMW] #79; Burden #761.

Condition: A

A nice impression with contemporary outline color on a bright sheet with the Society of Jesus watermark and the initials "T D." There is light toning along the edges of the sheet.