Nicolas Sanson
North America with California as an island, 1679
7 x 9 ½ in
18 x 24 cm
18 x 24 cm
AMER2392
America Septentrionalis Famous map of North America, notable for its delineation of the Great Lakes and its portrayal of the island of California. In 1657, Nicholas Sanson issued a quarto...
America Septentrionalis
Famous map of North America, notable for its delineation of the Great Lakes and its portrayal of the island of California.
In 1657, Nicholas Sanson issued a quarto sized atlas focused on the New World. Five of the maps featured parts of North America. This is the general map of North America which is based on Sanson’s own larger map of the continent first published in 1650. This earlier, larger map is particularly notable as being the first cartographic document to feature any division of the Great Lakes, as seen here on this smaller example. The other notable geographical feature on both maps is the portrayal of California as an island. Sanson’s maps were widely emulated at the time. This particular example is a German edition of the work, published in 1679 by Johann Zunner. The major difference between the French edition and the German edition is the use of Latin on the latter as opposed to French on the former. That apart, the Zunner map is very slightly smaller and the engraving is a touch more simplistic.
The Zunner edition of these maps are rarer than their French counterparts.
[AMER2392]
Famous map of North America, notable for its delineation of the Great Lakes and its portrayal of the island of California.
In 1657, Nicholas Sanson issued a quarto sized atlas focused on the New World. Five of the maps featured parts of North America. This is the general map of North America which is based on Sanson’s own larger map of the continent first published in 1650. This earlier, larger map is particularly notable as being the first cartographic document to feature any division of the Great Lakes, as seen here on this smaller example. The other notable geographical feature on both maps is the portrayal of California as an island. Sanson’s maps were widely emulated at the time. This particular example is a German edition of the work, published in 1679 by Johann Zunner. The major difference between the French edition and the German edition is the use of Latin on the latter as opposed to French on the former. That apart, the Zunner map is very slightly smaller and the engraving is a touch more simplistic.
The Zunner edition of these maps are rarer than their French counterparts.
[AMER2392]
