A map of North America during the Mississippi Bubble

CHÂTELAIN, Henri Abraham.

Carte de la Nouvelle France, où se voit le cours des Grandes Rivieres de S.Laurens & de Mississipi...
Amsterdam, 1718. Coloured. 425 x 500mm.

A highly detailed map of eastern North America designed to show the courses of the St Laurence and the Mississippi. One inset charts the mouth of the Mississippi as mapped by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1699, the other a prospect and map of the environs of Quebec. Although the cartography is based on the rare four-sheet map by De Fer, the vignettes scattered over the surface come from De Bry.
The map was published at the height of the 'Mississippi Bubble', wild speculation on the value of the French 'Compagnie d'Occident' (mentioned in the title, better known as the Mississippi Company), promoted by Scottish economist John Law. The bubble burst in 1720, causing huge losses for the investors.


Stock ID : 22751