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A Stunning Map of the Province of Quebec, with Large Plans of Montreal and Quebec

This fine example represents the first state of an important early map of the English Province of Quebec, the St. Lawrence River and Valley, and parts of northern New York State and Maine, drawn in accordance with the boundaries established by the Treaty of Peace of 1763.

The map, visually captivating and richly detailed, extends its coverage to include parts of Labrador, Nova Scotia, and northern Maine. It features four insets, presenting detailed plans of Montreal and Quebec City, as well as maps of the Isles of Montreal and the St. Lawrence River. The elegantly etched cartouche, evoking natural grandeur, frames the title as if engraved upon a polished cliff, surrounded by boulders, cascades, and appropriate flora from the region. 

This map is of particular historical significance due to its accurate depiction of the boundaries of the Province of Quebec, as defined by King George III’s Proclamation of October 7, 1763. Issued in the wake of the French and Indian War, this proclamation not only established the borders of the newly acquired North American territories but also laid the foundation for representative government and the institution of law within these territories. The boundaries of Quebec, as set forth in the proclamation, are detailed as follows:

The Government of Quebec bounded on the Labrador Coast by the River St. John, and from thence by a Line drawn from the Head of that River through the Lake St. John, to the South end of the Lake Nipissim; from whence the said Line, crossing the River St. Lawrence, and the Lake Champlain, in 45. Degrees of North Latitude, passes along the High Lands which divide the Rivers that empty themselves into the said River St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Sea; and also along the North Coast of the Baye des Chaleurs, and the Coast of the Gulph of St. Lawrence to Cape Rosieres, and from thence crossing the Mouth of the River St. Lawrence by the West End of the Island of Anticosti, terminates at the aforesaid River of St. John.

This map is also notable for its synthesis of both French and British survey data. While the origins of the French data are somewhat ambiguous, it likely stems from extensive surveys conducted during the French occupation of the region. A significant portion of the British data is derived from the work of Jonathan Carver, a veteran of the French and Indian War who witnessed the pivotal Siege of Quebec in 1759. Carver is best known for his exploration of the territories from Mackinac to the Mississippi River, which he chronicled in Travels through the Interior Parts of North America (1778). Though this account later fell into disrepute due to publisher embellishments, Carver’s surveys provided valuable insights that were incorporated into the geographical understanding of the time. 

Although this map was published in 1776, it was likely compiled earlier, before 1771, by Thomas Jefferys or one of his associates. Following Jefferys’ death in 1771, his maps and materials were inherited by Robert Sayer and John Bennett, who subsequently issued this and other important maps in their renowned American Atlas. The attribution to Jefferys underscores the extensive effort involved in gathering and integrating both French and British survey data—an undertaking more reflective of Jefferys' thorough and meticulous approach than that of his successors.  

This map carries additional historical interest, as it was issued on February 19, 1776, during the height of the American Revolutionary War. At the time, Benedict Arnold’s expeditionary force was laying siege to Quebec City. News of the siege had not yet reached London by the time the map was published; had it done so, Sayer and Bennett might have added topical information to enhance its appeal. Despite this omission, the map remains an invaluable record of the region's political and geographical landscape during a critical moment in both British and North American history.