Sanson’s map of Canada with an early depiction of the Great Lakes

A scarce and important map of the French possessions in North America, the first map to show Lake Erie in a recognisable form, although the western lakes are still open-ended. A North West Passage is suggested running from Butons Bay. On the St Lawrence, Montreal, built by the French c.1642, appears. New York is still named 'Nouvelle Amsterdam', as it was not captured by the English until 1662. Engraved by Jan van Somer, this map was the standard for the next fifty years. First published in 1656 as a separate-issue map, this example comes from Sanson's Atlas 'Les Cartes Générales de toutes parties du Monde', first issued 1658.