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This is probably the most extravagant of all the Northwest Passage maps based on the Jefferys model. Thomas Jefferys was an ardent believer in the northern route to Asia through a passage described by Juan de Fuca in 1592 and in the fictitious story of Bartholomew de Fonte's discoveries in 1640. Alaska is shown in an early, peninsular form based on the map of Mueller. This map is from a series prepared by Didier Robert de Vaugondy to illustrate the articles written by Samuel Engel concerning the recent discoveries and cartographic theories in the northern regions.

References: cf. Hayes, pp. 26-27; Pedley #455 and pp. 74-78; Wagner (NW) #637.

Condition: B+

A dark impression on a bright, watermarked sheet with a couple of small spots in the image, faint offsetting, and light toning along the centerfold and edges of the sheet. There are dampstains in the top corners of the sheet, well away from the image.