This very large (over 3ft, 1m) copper-plate engraved, beautifully hand coloured, original antique Twin Hemisphere World Map was engraved by Guillaume Nicolas Delahaye (1727 - 1802) in 1761, with updates by Jean Denis Barbie Du Bocage (1760-1825) in 1786 - the dates are engraved in the titles - and was published in Jean-Baptiste Bourguinon D'Anville's large elephant folio atlas Atlas Generale.

To illustrate the cartography of the middle to latter part of the eighteenth century -  especially detail of America & the Southern Hemisphere - a D' Anville map is essential. He dominated not only the French but all contemporary geographers, regardless of nationality, and this map more than illustrates why.
He was foremost in using the latest and most accurate cartographic information available. From the latest discoveries of the many French explorers to information available from explorers such as Cook and others. And unlike many cartographers of the day, he was not adverse to leave blank spaces in his maps, where knowledge was insufficient.

In American cartography his representation of the great lakes is superior to that of his contemporary John Mitchell who was responsible for publishing one of the most famous mid 18th century maps A Map of the British and French Dominions in North America on 8 sheets London in 1755. It was the standard map of North America up until the end of the century. Eusebio Francisco Kino's discoveries of California in the beginning of the 18th century have now made full impact. D'anville's map shows California as a peninsula and the Colorado and Gila Rivers are more accurately located. Note that the western part of the Gila River is named the "Rio Grande", the Santa Cruz River is called "Sta. Maria", and the San Pedro River is "Terenate". The latest discoveries by Cook in NW of America are also included.
In the southern hemisphere, especially Australia & the South Pacific, French cartographic knowledge was as detailed if not more so than the British, although dominance by the French was on the decline. Bocage has included nearly all Cooks detail of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia, leaving a gap between Tasmania and the mainland and gaps to the great Australian Bight. French discoveries in the south Pacific are included but as expected very little detail of the very Southern Ocean.

These large detailed maps are hard to find in such good condition. They are fantastic historical reference tools due to their size and high level of detail, as with all D'Anvilles work. (Ref: Tooley, M&B)

General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original & later
Colors used: - Yellow, pink, green
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 48 1/2in x 29in (1.25m x 740mm)
Plate size: - 48in x 26 1/2in (1.2m x 670mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - Light creasing, small restoration to folds, as issued
Verso: - Strengthening to both L&R folds

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