1719 Mappemonde Ou Description Generale Du Globe Terrestre

This decorative hand coloured map of the world is from Chatelain's monumental Atlas Historique. Published in seven volumes, it was one of the most famous and prolific works of the early 18th century. Here Chatelain depicted the planet in two hemispheres, below which he added a table naming the continents, incuding countries and capital cities as they were in the early 18th century. Geographical terminology used for topographical and nautical descriptions, along with explanatory text is also provided below the map. On viewing the map one’s eye is immediately drawn to a number of curious topographical representations, including the erroneous depiction of California as a rather long island positioned just off the west coast of North America. Despite early maps showing California as part of the continent, in the early 17th century the misconception of it as an island began to occur and was still to be found as late as the mid-18th century. Even preeminent mapmakers such as Jan Jansson, Nic