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Description

Fascinating map of North America, based upon a map by Thomas Engel.

Engel's map of North America was issued in his Memoires Observations Geographiques in 1765, and provides a fascinating look at the water courses across North America, with no less than 4 rivers reaching from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains and one nearly to the Mississippi, commencing near Puget Sound. Baron La Hontan's mythical River of the West is shown with only a short portage from L. de Tahuglanks across the Rockies to the source of the Mississippi. Two other rivers begin north of the Bering Strait and feed the mythical Lake Conibas popularized by Wytfliet in 1597, with Lake Michinipi, passing over top of the Rockies.

While no Northwest Passage is shown, the prospect is not foreclosed. The mid-American water courses are no less interesting, with The Missouri, Mississippi and R. Rouge badly misprojected, but very much in evidence. The maps were issued following a long period of French/Jesuit exploration commencing with La Salle, Jolliet, Franquelin, Hennepin and La Hontan in the late 17th and early 18th Centuries and continuing with the systematic search reflected in the maps of Verendrye and others searching for the watercourse between the Mississippi and the Pacific. Wheat notes that among other interesting features, the entire west is labeled Allies de Sioux, undoubtedly a Jesuit observation.

Reference
Wheat 158, Pedley 453, Portinaro 158.
Didier Robert de Vaugondy Biography

Didier Robert de Vaugondy (ca. 1723-1786) was the son of prominent geographer Gilles Robert de Vaugondy and Didier carried on his father’s impressive work. Together, they published their best-known work, the Atlas Universel (1757). The atlas took fifteen years to create and was released in a folio and ¾ folio edition; both are rare and highly sought-after today. Together and individually, father and son were known for their exactitude and depth of research.

Like his father, Didier served as geographer to King Louis XV. He was especially recognized for his skills in globe making; for example, a pair of his globes made for the Marquise de Pompadour are today in the collection of the Municipal Museum of Chartres. Didier was also the geographer to the Duke of Lorraine. In 1773, he was appointed royal censor in charge of monitoring the information published in geography texts, navigational tracts, and travel accounts.

The Robert De Vaugondy Family

Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) and Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786) were influential figures in the realm of 18th-century French cartography. Originating from Paris, their contributions to mapmaking were significant during an era of expansive geographical exploration.

Gilles Robert de Vaugondy entered the world of cartography not through family tradition but through personal interest and the budding opportunities of his time. Born in 1688, he worked during a time when Paris was becoming a central hub for cartographic activities. Gilles often incorporated the latest findings from explorers into his maps, making them sought-after for their contemporary relevance. His connections weren't limited to his immediate circle; he frequently interacted with other key mapmakers, staying updated on the latest techniques and findings.

His son, Didier, was born in 1723 and had the advantage of growing up surrounded by maps and globes. While his father was renowned for maps, Didier made a name for himself in the field of globemaking. His globes were some of the most precise and detailed in France, gaining recognition even among the royalty. In addition to his work in cartography and globemaking, Didier had a keen interest in education, especially after the expulsion of the Jesuits from France. He stepped in to produce geographical educational materials, fulfilling a newfound need.

In terms of predecessors, the Vaugondys followed in the footsteps of notable French cartographers like Nicolas Sanson and Guillaume Delisle. The latter was particularly influential during the early 18th century, setting high standards in scientific cartography. As for competitors, the Vaugondys were contemporaries with Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville, a cartographer who, like them, was rigorous in his methodologies and had a significant influence on mapmaking during the same period.

The maps and globes produced by the Vaugondys remain an enduring testament to the peak of French cartography during the Enlightenment. Their works, characterized by precision and the inclusion of contemporary findings, helped to shape our understanding of the world during a transformative period in European history.