Premiere Carte Pour L’Introduction a L’Histoire du Monde, ou l’On Remarque la Sphere, le Globe Celeste, et les Differents Sistemes du Monde

First Map for the Introduction to the History of the World, where we note the Sphere, the Celestial Globe, and the Different Systems of the World – Approximate Title Translation

Engaging overview that marries the basic principles of astronomy and astrology into a unified concept. Of note is the depiction of California as an Island. The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720, but was re-printed in numerous in several subsequent editions until the late 1730s. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The breadth of content offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. The descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.