Eastern North America, showing Canada, Louisiana, Florida and the Bahamas, with an inset of the West Coast of Canada and California.

This small, interesting map of the United States shows the geography of North America pre the outcome of the Revolutionary War, which was occurring during its first issue. Hence the rather sparse English possessions on the east coast (in red) being dwarfed by the vast French claims of Louisiana and Canada (coloured green). Spanish Florida is shown in yellow.

The inset on the upper left notes shows the discoveries of the Spanish Admiral de Fonte on the Pacific northwest, which led to much speculation about the existence of the Northwest Passage as shown on Joseph de L’Isle’s map of 1753. A small panel of text beneath casts doubt on their veracity. Vaugondy was a noted sceptic about the existence of the Northwest Passage. Original colour. [USA9784]