Carte Reduite des Cotes Orientales de L'Amerique Septentrionale

Important and detailed map of the east coast of the United States and Canada from from Newfoundland to New Jersey published during the American Revolutionary War.

The basic model for this chart is taken from Nicholas Bellin’s map bearing the same name issued for the first time in 1757 for the Depot de la Marine. This edition of the chart, although showing much of the same area, now stretches further north, showing the west coast of Newfoundland, the Baie de Chaleurs (Chaleur Bay), and the Iles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands). There has been considerable revision along the whole coastline, particularly to the shape of Nova Scotia, Cape Cod, and Long Island. Furthermore, the inset of Boston Bay on the lower right has been removed, as has the decorative element on the cartouche on the upper left.

It was prepared during a pivotal period in American history from surveys made by French naval officers in the late 1770s and first issued in 1780 under the name of the powerful and influential Antoine de Sartine, Comte d’Alby, who served as Secretary to the Navy between 1774-80. The map was included in the “Neptune Americo-Septentrionale” atlas and was widely used by the French Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

This particular example bears the initials “R.F.” in the seal of the Depot de la Marine on the lower right. These stand for 'Republique Francaise' dating its issue to after 1792. [SL]