This map focuses on the north eastern and central part of Europe, particularly Poland, the Baltic States, eastern Prussia, Russia and the south coast of Finland.

De Fer (1646-1720) was the son of a prominent engraver and produced his first map in 1669. He joined his father's business in 1673 and ultimately took over in 1687. He was a prolific map maker who produced over six hundred separate maps in multiple forms; as separate issues, bound within history and travel books, and as atlases. In the late 17th century he was made Geographer to the Dauphin.

This is one of the larger maps included in the "Atlas Curieux" and shows the areas on which the Great Northern War was fought. This was a conflict between an alliance led by Peter the Great of Russia against Charles XII of Sweden. Peter was supported by Frederick IV of Denmark and Augustus II of Saxony-Poland-Lithuania. Charles was supported by the Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the state of Holstein-Gottorp and Stanislaus Leszczynski of Poland. The war was fought in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland for twenty years (1700-21) and ultimately ended in defeat for the Swedes. [EUR1558]