Amerique Septentrional in Suas Praecipuas Partes Divisa, Ad Usum Serenissimi Burgundiae Ducis.

Rare first edition of an outdated 17th century perspective of the North American continent.

This interesting depiction of North America was published in Amsterdam by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot in 1694 as part of his Atlas Royal. It is the uncommon first state, identifiable by the date in the second of two decorative cartouches (lower left). Though updated editions of the map would be issued for almost the next 100 years, the image was already outdated by the time of its publication.

Numerous cartographic myths persist across the map, most evidently California is depicted as an island. Just to the west can be seen the ‘Terre de Iesso’ – allegedly the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Open waterways in the Arctic Circle allude to possibilities for an easily navigable Northwest Passage and an ambiguous Glacial Sea. The outline of Hudson’s Bay and the Great Lakes are almost obsolete. The Mississippi and the Rio Grande Rivers are also depicted incorrectly and fail to incorporate contemporary information from Spanish explorers and Jesuit missionaries.

Despite its numerous faults, the map presents a fascinating depiction of the continent near the end of the 17th century. Native American tribes are noted throughout and territorial claims reflect a decidedly French perspective; relegating English territory to the east of the Appalachian Mountains and including a large French Florida and ‘the Sea of New France’. Topography is depicted pictorially, with the ‘Apalache’ region labeled adjacent to a large fictitious lake.

References: Burden 700, Wheat 74, University of Georgia Library