L’Hydrographie ou Description de L’Eau c’est a dire des Mers, Golfes, Lacs, Destroits, et Rivieres principales, qui sont dans la Surface du Globe Terrestre.

Excellent example of one of Sanson’s first world maps.

From the early 1630’s Nicholas Sanson, originally from Abberville, had been working in collaboration with his older compatriot Melchior Tavernier. Then, from about 1645, he entered into association with Pierre Mariette, often working from the Mariette’s address in Paris.

The map depicts California as an island and is one of the first to distinguish the Great Lakes, all five not being named until Sanson’s 1656 map of New France. Based largely on Jesuit reports, Lac Superior and Lac des puans (‘Lake of evil smells’ for Lake Michigan) are here introduced but Erie ou Du Chat, identified by Boisseau in a regional map of 1643 is not named. 

To the south the faint outline of Terra Magellanica is retained, Australia is only partially shown and still marked Beach. Names on the west and south coasts reflect Dutch discoveries there but the remaining coastline, falling sharply south-east, is entirely speculative, Van Dieman’s Land and New Zealand are omitted.

This edition is identified by the date 1652 in the publication line in the lower margin.

Reference Shirley 394