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Nice example of Leonhard van Euler's map of America, published in Berlin in 1753.
Von Euler's map would appear to follow Guilluame De L'Isle in terms of its cartographic details.
In North America an elaborate system of rivers and lakes, including Lacus Ouinipigon, invite the hope of discovery of a Northwest Passage, terminating in the Pacific just north of the discoveries of Martin d'Aguilar. The northern portion of California is labeled Nova Albion and farther north is the mythical land of Quivira. The British Colonies are confined east of the Appalachians with the French controlling Florida and Louisiana and the Spanish occupying the territories of New Mexico and California. The map notes when several islands were discovered along with the explorer involved.
The work was part of an effort in Berlin to begin to publish maps on a level competitive with other major European Cities.
Von Euler was best known as one of the great mathematicians of his era.
Leonhard Euler was a Swiss mathematician, physicist, astronomer, logician, and engineer, widely regarded as one of the most prolific and influential contributors to mathematics and science. Born on April 15, 1707, in Basel, Switzerland, Euler was raised in a devoutly religious family and exhibited exceptional intellectual abilities from a young age. He enrolled at the University of Basel at the age of 13, studying under Johann Bernoulli, who recognized and nurtured his extraordinary mathematical talent. Initially expected to follow his father’s footsteps into the clergy, Euler persuaded his family to allow him to pursue mathematics, setting the stage for a career of unparalleled achievement.
Euler's career was defined by his remarkable contributions to mathematics and the physical sciences. He pioneered fields such as graph theory and topology and made significant advances in number theory, infinitesimal calculus, and complex analysis. His introduction of modern mathematical notation—such as f(x)f(x)f(x) for functions, eee as the base of natural logarithms, and π\piπ for the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter—has shaped mathematical language to this day. Euler's insights extended beyond pure mathematics to include mechanics, fluid dynamics, optics, and astronomy. His solutions to foundational problems, such as the Basel problem and the Seven Bridges of Königsberg, are celebrated as landmarks in mathematical history.
Throughout his life, Euler published an astonishing 866 works, including many groundbreaking papers and textbooks. He worked extensively in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and Berlin, Prussia, under the patronage of influential monarchs. In Saint Petersburg, Euler collaborated closely with the Bernoulli family and helped elevate the Russian Academy of Sciences to international prominence. In Berlin, he further advanced his work in calculus, celestial mechanics, and engineering. Despite losing sight in one eye early in his career and later becoming almost completely blind, Euler's productivity did not wane, thanks to his extraordinary memory and the assistance of his scribes.
Euler was renowned for his clarity in communicating complex ideas, as evidenced in his widely read Letters to a German Princess, which introduced scientific concepts to a lay audience.
![[Sea of the West] L'Amerique divisee Par Grands Etats . . . 1762](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/98770.jpg)
![[ First Map of the American Continent ] Die Neuwen Inseln / so hinder Hispanien gegen Orient bey dem land India lingen.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/109644.jpg)
