"Essay d'une Carte Reduite, Contenant les Parties Connuees du Globe Terrestre", Bellin, Jacques Nicolas
Period: 1748 (dated)
Publication: La Harpe's Abrege de l'Histoire Generale des Voyages
Color: Black & White
27.8 x 20 inches
70.6 x 50.8 cm
This is a very large and attractive world chart drawn on Mercator's projection. North America is shown with a prominent River of the West connecting through a series of rivers and lakes from Lake Superior to the Pacific - representing the elusive search for a Northwest Passage. The Russian discoveries in the North Pacific are shown with Alaska depicted as an island named I. Unamak. Australia is labeled Nouvelle Hollande with Terre de Diemen still linked to the mainland. New Zealand is fully formed showing both islands and there are numerous islands in the Pacific. The large, decorative title cartouche and two fine compass roses with rhumb lines make this a very attractive chart. Australia and New Zealand reflect the discoveries of Capt. Cook, but Tasmania is still attached to Australia, suggesting a publish date after 1770 but before 1777.
The map has a fine impression with just a hint of offsettng in blank areas. Good margins with a little of the lower left corner missing, welll away from the map image. Issued folding, this example has been professionally mounted on new linen to support weakness at some fold intersections.