Must-have Large Old French Map Of The Americas By Bailleul, 1752: Illustrated Exploration & Colonialism, French & Spanish Claims Perfect For Gifting [apvbi1xB]

Step into the world of Enlightenment-era cartography with "L'Amerique Divisee en ses Principales Parties ou sont distingues les uns de autres les Estats, selon quils appartiennents presentement aux Differents Souverains De L'Europe," a masterwork by Nicolas Bailleul le Jeune, published in 1752. This map stands as a testament to the intellectual curiosity and artistic flair of mid-18th-century France, capturing the Americas at a moment when myth, speculation, and new discoveries collided. Bailleul, a noted geographer of his time, presents not just the physical geography of the New World, but a tapestry of European ambition, rivalry, and imagination.

The map’s visual grandeur is immediately apparent, surrounded by thirty exquisitely detailed vignettes that bring to life the age of exploration. These illustrations offer glimpses into European encounters with indigenous peoples, legendary giants of Patagonia, and even the speculative migration of Asians across the Bering Strait. Each vignette is a window into the prevailing narratives and misconceptions of the period, from French naval victories in the Caribbean to the charting of the mighty Mississippi. The border thus transforms the map into a gallery of Enlightenment thought and colonial aspiration.

At the heart of the map lies a fascinating blend of cartographic precision and myth. Bailleul boldly incorporates the enigmatic "Sea of the West" (Mer de l'Ouest), a vast inland sea that was the subject of fierce debate among geographers seeking the elusive Northwest Passage. The inclusion of this speculative body of water—one of the earliest and most prominent on any printed map—speaks to the spirit of inquiry and the allure of the unknown that characterized the era. Annotations referencing “Foussang des Chinois” reflect contemporary theories that Chinese explorers reached the Americas long before Columbus, a notion that captivated Enlightenment scholars and fueled international rivalries.

Bailleul’s map is also remarkable for its political delineations. North America is rendered as a continent dominated by French and Spanish claims, with British colonies confined to the Atlantic seaboard—a powerful visual assertion of France’s imperial ambitions just years before the seismic shifts of the Seven Years’ War. South America is meticulously divided into Spanish viceroyalties and provinces, while the Caribbean brims with European-held islands. The mapmaker’s careful labeling of mythical and little-known regions—such as Terra Australis, Compagnies Land, and Gamaland—demonstrates both the reach and the limits of European knowledge in the mid-18th century.

Beyond its geographic and political detail, this map is a historical artifact of rare significance. It offers a unique window into the evolving science of cartography, the interplay of fact and legend, and the global aspirations of Enlightenment Europe. The presence of explorer routes, from Columbus and Magellan to Quiros and Verrazzano, traces the relentless pursuit of discovery that shaped the modern world. For the discerning collector, Bailleul’s 1752 map is not merely a representation of the Americas—it is a vibrant document of imagination, ambition, and the ever-shifting boundaries of human understanding.

Countries and regions on this map

• North America
• South America
• French territories in North America (Canada, Louisiana)
• Spanish territories in North America (New Spain, Florida)
• British colonies in North America (smaller and confined along the eastern coast)
• Spanish Viceroyalties and provinces in South America (e.g., Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, Tierra del Fuego)
• Caribbean Islands (e.g., Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe)
• Mythical or speculative regions (Terra Australis, Sea of the West, Compagnies Land, Gamaland, Foussang)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Surrounded by thirty illustrated vignettes depicting historical scenes, indigenous peoples, and exploration events
• Atlantic Ocean
• Pacific Ocean
• Sea of the West ("Mer de l'Ouest"), a mythical inland sea in North America
• Andes Mountains (clearly depicted along the western coast of South America)
• Routes of Christopher Columbus' voyages across the Atlantic
• Magellan's circumnavigation route
• Schouten and Le Maire's circumnavigation route
• Giovanni da Verrazzano's route
• Routes of Spanish explorers Alvaro de Mendaña and Pedro Ferdinand de Quiros in the Pacific
• Annotation of "Foussang des Chinois," indicating supposed early Chinese exploration
• Annotation referencing Binot Paulmier de Gonneville's supposed discovery of Terra Australis in 1503
• Notes about unknown lands and speculative passages in North America (Northwest Passage, Compagnies Land, Gamaland)

Historical and design context

• Created in 1752 by Nicolas Bailleul le Jeune, a renowned French geographer
• Published in Lyon by Daudet
• Exemplifies mid-18th-century French cartography with elaborate illustrations and annotations
• Reflects European exploration, colonization, and cartographic myths of the Americas
• Emphasizes French and Spanish territorial dominance in North America
• Rare map, with only two known examples (Library of Congress and UNC Chapel Hill)
• Decorative and detailed, with numerous historical annotations and explanatory texts
• Shows navigational routes of famous explorers, reflecting the era’s fascination with discovery

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.