1798 - A large and rare copperplate antique engraved map titled: " PLAN of the Port of S. DIEGO in California - Plan of the Port and Department of S. BLAS ".

Scarce English edition of La Perouse's important early map of San Diego and San Blas, based upon the surveys of Juan Pantoja.

Pantoja was a captain plying the Manila trade for Spain in the late 18th Century. The base of operations was San Blas. Pantoja made several supply runs north along the coast, stopping in San Diego, Monterrey and San Francisco among other places, to supply the missions and make surveys. Before he could transmit his work to Madrid, he apparently shared his work with La Perouse, who was then exploring the Pacific in the wake of Cook's monumental voyages. Ironically, both men died before their works were published. From the English edition of La Perouse's voyage. La Perouse probably never actually entered into the harbor and relied solely on Pantoja's manuscript charts for his information. He certainly did not conduct any surveys of the Bay. The map shows the Presidio, several ranchos and the landing prominently described by Dana in 3 Years Before The Mast.

This is the earliest obtainable printed map of San Diego, preceded only by rare maps by Dalyrmple and a few other equally unobtainable works. San Blas was the primary Spanish depot on the west coast of Mexico. A fine example of a seminal map of San Diego.

CONDITION: Excellent condition with expert hand colouring and large margins, perfect for mounting and framing.

Size approximately 39cm x 25cm.  
PROVENANCE: Taken from "VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD performed in the years 1785, 1786, 1787 and 1788 by the Boussole and Astrolabe" by J.F.G. de la Perouse, published by The Order of the National Assembly.
Jean-Francois de Galaup Laperouse (1741-1788?) was a French Naval Officer and explorer. He entered the naval college in Brest when he was fifteen and in 1757 was posted to Celebre and participated in a supply expedition to the fort of Louisbourg in New France. His naval career continued and was involved in several major campaigns and was promoted to the rank of Commodore when he defeated the English frigate - ARIEL in the West Indies. He was also involved in the Battle of the Saintes and made his name when he captured two English forts ont he coast of Hudson Bay.
In 1785, he was appointed by Louis XVI to lead an expedition around the world and included the likes of Chile, Hawaii, Alaska, California, East Asia, Japan, Russia, Australia and the South Pacific where it appears he met his demise. In March 1788, the expedition left New South Wales, bound for New Caledonia, Santa Cruz, the Solomons, the Louisades and the western and southern coasts of Australia. While Laperouse had reported in a letter from Port Jackson that he expected to be back in France by June 1789,, neither he nor any membrer of his expedition were seen again.