" Amerique Septentrionale dressee, sur les Relations les plus modernes des Voyageurs et Navigateurs, et divisee suivant les differentes possessions des Europeens "

A mid 18th century map of North America with outline colouring of various regions highlighting French, English and Spanish colonial possessions. The map extends from portions of the Arctic & Greenland in the north to the northern coast of South America, encompassing present-day Mexico, Caribbean Islands & Central America. A pictorial cartouche is embellished with a Banana tree, long-tailed birds, an alligator and dark-skinned indigenous people (whose features & dress look more African than Native American). Physical relief is shown pictorially. The map was published by Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786) and Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766). They were members of the Robert de Vaugondy family of map and globe makers to King Louis XVI. It is dated 1750, the first edition of this map.

The Robert de Vaugondy family responsible for map and globe publishing in Paris comprised Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) and Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786). The father (Gilles) and son (Didier) business flourished from 1731 to 1778. Prominent at this time among French map-makers were the Robert de Vaugondy family, who made a substantial contribution to the 18th century world of cartography, through the breadth & success of their prolific output, which included atlases, maps, globes and book illustrations. While only a small part of the output, the 'Atlas Universel' encapsulates the diligent and scientific approach adopted by the Roberts de Vaugondy and proved to be the most successful French world atlas of the period. 

Overall size 68cm x 51cm (26.7in x 20in) with original & later hand colouring. Excellent condition with central fold as issued. Blank on verso.