De Fer. L'Amerique [wall map]. 1717

FER, NICOLAS DE

L'Amérique divisee selon l'étendue de ses principales parties. Paris: J.F. Bernard, 1713

LARGE WALL-MAP in 4 sheets engraved by Nicolas Guerard, with additional panels of text along sides and lower borders, 1070 x 1590mm., joined and backed on linen, map in contemporary outline colour, loss of text at lower border, some skilful restoration

A SPLENDID, RARE, AND HIGHLY DECORATIVE WALL-MAP OF THE AMERICAS. KNOWN AS THE "ORIGINAL BEAVER MAP", by being the first major map to include an engraved cartouche of beavers in the wild. “This large, separately-issued map of Nicolas de Fer represents the culmination of French progress at the close of the seventeenth century in her bid to transform North America into a 'New France'” (Suarez p.142). Elaborately illustrated with vignettes and descriptive text of the customs and inhabitants of the regionals of America, this map is the source of the illustrations made famous by Moll’s “Beaver map” including the beavers in Canada and the Cod Fishery in Newfoundland. California is shown as an island.

LITERATURE:

Suarez, Shedding the Veil 48; McLaughlin, The Mapping of California as an Island 165