Fabulous, large pictorial map of French North American exploration

Description

This captivating pictorial map of North America was published in Vitry-sur-Seine, Paris, in 1935. It provides a detailed overview of French exploration of the continent between the 16^th and 18^th centuries. According to an annotation on the map, it was prepared for the May 1935 mission of the France-America Committee.

Showing most of North America, the map names major rivers and lakes as well as key cities. Relief is not depicted. Contemporary borders are indicated through dashed lines.

Colonies or regions of influence of the European powers (France, Great Britain, Spain) before the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) are shown through colour shading and by using dotted lines to outline borders. Non-explored regions are identified as well. A legend at bottom left defines the four shades used.

The Seven Years' War, which was global in nature, included the French and Indian War (1754-1763), which played out in North America. At the centre of the latter were disputes over trade and territorial claims, between the colonial powers of Great Britain and France, fought about together with their respective Native American allies. While the French and Indian War was only a partial contributor to the Seven Years’ War, the formal outcome of the latter, as reflected in the Treaty of Paris (1763), redefined the borders in North America. One of the key parts of this was France ceding almost all its territorial claims and possessions in North America (the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon being, to this day, the only small exception), with the vast majority passing to Great Britain.

Against this background, the map lays out in detail the routes of 24 French expeditions to North America, starting with Giovanni da Verrazzano’s exploration of the continent’s eastern coast, on behalf of King Francis I of France, in 1523-24, and finishing with Joseph Boucher de Niverville’s expedition along the Upper South Saskatchewan River and towards the Rocky Mountains, in 1751, i.e. three years prior to the start of the French and Indian War. A legend at lower left of the map identifies each expedition by colour code, detailing its leader, the year it took place, and the region it explored. A disclaimer is provided as well, stating (in French) that “the routes are often uncertain, and it is not possible to guarantee great precision in their tracing”.

The map features eight vignette-style illustrations, taken from publications resulting from several of the expeditions documented on it.

An additional illustration, of the ocean liner “Normandie”, serves as title cartouche. Considering that the ship made her maiden voyage at the same time as the mission of the France-America Committee was underway – in May 1935 – it is possible that the committee members were aboard her.

A large, coloured compass rose adorns the map at upper left.

An impressing and highly engaging map with plenty of historical detail to discover.

Condition

Good.

Folding, with three horizontal and three vertical foldlines. Printed colour, including in gold. A few spots at lower left. Numerous small tears, mostly along foldlines, closed on verso, mainly with archival tape.

Reference

SS Normandie. (2025, August 21). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Normandie

Item #: 02949

US $850.00

Status: On Hold

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