Description:

FULL TITLE: Essay d'une Carte Reduite contenant les parties connues du Globe Terrestre dedie a M. le Comte de Maurepas, Commandeur des Ordres du Roy, Ministre et Secretaire d'Etat. Par N. Bellin Ingenieur ordin're de la Marine, 1748.

Scarce first state of Bellin's map of the world, made up of 4 sheets which, if joined together, would make a large map 48 cm by 72 cm.

A large map on the Mercator projection, printed on four separate sheets, giving an excellent summary of the extent of knowledge of the world, prior to Cook’s voyages of discovery. Australia, for example, is defined only in part, with dotted lines making up the east coast and parts of the south and west coasts. Moreover, only a small part of the west coast of New Zealand had been mapped and the Northwest coast of America, including Alaska had not been mapped at all. Although the Great Lakes are quite well defined, there are fictitious features, such as additional lakes and a river running west, almost to the coast. The land of Quivira is still shown as are a numer of fictitious islands in the Atlantic. The map is centred on Paris with the prime meridian running through L'isle de Fer. Compass roses with radiating rhumb lines.

Publication: Histoire Generale des Voyages, chez Didot 1749

Scarce

Conditon: GG

Cartographer: Bellin. J N

Date: 1749

Technique: Copper Engraving

Colour: Uncoloured

Width (cms) x Height (cms): 72.0 x 48.0

Ref: EWB0674