Striking and highly detailed fine unusual 1766 Louis Brion de la Tour's copper engraved map of the world on a hemisphere projection. North America, particularly the Northwestern quadrants, are exceptionally interesting and speculative. A magnificent inland sea, called the Sea of the West or in this case the Mer de L'Ouest, is presented in the northwestern part of the America. This body of water, alternatively called the Sea of the West or Baye de l'Ouest, was speculated by Philippe Buache and De l'Isle in the early 18th century based upon wishful thinking, American Indian stories, and the somewhat questionable 16th century explorations of Juan de Fuca. Here Brion gives the Mer de l'Ouest its fullest expression, though he specifically does not connect it to the factual network of lakes and rivers extending westward from the Hudson Bay. South of the equator the shores of Australia or New Holland are speculatively mapped with a dotted line defining the southern and eastern portions continent. Van Diemen's Land or Tasmania is attached to the mainland, which itself includes New Guinea and parts of the New Hebrides.

Polynesia is mapped with numerous islands named. What is shown is 'Terre de Davis' roughly where Easter Island is today. Terre de Davis or Davis' Land was supposedly discovered in 1688 by an English navigator of the same name. Many historians argue whether or not Davis Land was actually Easter Island, but it does seem likely.

The map includes a beautiful rococo style title cartouche in the top center and another cartouche at the bottom of the map, featuring the dedication and the coat of arms of France held up by Atlas and Hercules,

This map was issued as plate no. 8 in the most deluxe edition of Desnos’ 1766 “Atlas General Methodique et Elementaire, Pour l’Etude de la Geographie et de l’Histoire Moderne”.

Date: 1766 ( dated )

Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 38,4 x 28,8

Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains.