Louisiana--Delisle, Guillaume.

Buisseret, Mapping the French Empire in America 12; Cohen, Mapping the West pp.48-51; Cumming, Southeast in early Maps 170a; Kohl, Collection of Maps Relating to America 238; Lowery, Descriptive List of Maps of the Spanish Possessions within the present limits of the United States 288; Martin & Martin, Maps of Texas pl.19

The condition of this item is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The foundation map for the French colony of Louisiana, and one of the most important maps in early American history.

Delisle, soon to become French Geographer Royal, stakes French claims to all the territory watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries, including the Missouri and Ohio Rivers, as well as Canada and the Great Lakes, confining the English to a narrow belt along the eastern seaboard, a view entirely, and inevitably, at odds with existing English land grants and territorial aspirations.

This is the rare first state, published before news of the founding of the French settlement of New Orleans, established by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville for the French Mississippi Company, on 7 May 1718. Once news reached Delisle, the plate was quickly re-engraved, inserting New Orleans both in the main map and in the detailed inset of the Mississippi delta and Mobile Bay.

This is described as "the mother and main source of all the later maps of the Mississippi and the whole West of the United States" (Kohl). The map is also much sought after by Texas collectors, as being the first occasion, on a printed map, that the name Texas occurs, in the form "Mission de los Teijas etablie en 1716".