Seventeenth century map of the west coast of North America showing the island of California. This is the first map to focus on the “island” to this extent.

Sanson’s small map of the west coast is highly significant for its focus on the “island” of California, a theorized geographical concept initiated by the capture of a Spanish chart showing this geographical error. The theory was seized by proponents of the existence of the North West Passage and quickly became widely distributed by earlier map makers such as Henry Briggs, John Speed, Henricus Hondius and Joan Blaeu. Briggs in particular was an enthusiastic proponent of the existence of the North West Passage and in 1625 he produced a map of North America with a large island of California. He also includes a long panel of text detailing both the capture of the secret chart and dimensions of the “island”.

The wide adoption of this theory by respected map makers convinced even pioneering cartographers such as Nicholas Sanson. Despite his skepticism about many other geographical theories, Sanson published a folio sized map of the United States from the east coast to the west coast, engraved in 1656, with a large island of California. Using this as a base, in 1657, he published a smaller atlas, which contains this map. Although this map is derived from his earlier map, it is the first time that it appears in this form, with the focus on just the west coast and the island. Sanson was also the first map maker to focus on this region.

Sanson was a highly influential cartographer and his geographical shape of the island, particularly of the north coast with its distinctive two bays, has become known as the “Sanson model” and was used by several other important map makers after him.

As stated above, the first edition of the map was issued in 1657. This example was published in the German edition of Sanson’s atlas in 1679. This edition is often perceived as the rarest and this version of the map is the only one with a Spanish title.

A highly important piece for any collectors of “California as an island” maps.

[Burden 327] [USA9651]