Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
This item has been sold, but you can enter your email address to be notified if another example becomes available.
Description

One of the Earliest Maps to Incorporate the Information from Mitchell's 8-Sheet Map.

Flawless example of Ottens uncommon map of the British & French Possessions in North America, reflecting the French and English Claims in North America on the even of the French & Indian War.

The map is drawn directly from John Palairet's highly important map of the same title, which accompanied Palairet's A CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGLISH and FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN North-America, For the better explaining of the MAP published with that Title. BY J. PALAIRET, Agent of their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces, &c., published in London in 1755.

Jean Palairet was and English mapmaker, who had been born in France. At the time of publication, he was serving as the Agent to the Dutch States-General in London. Palairet's map is one of the earliest folio sized maps of the Colonies to incorporate the information from John Mitchell's seminal 8-sheet map.

Watch Geography Geek's Video on the Importance of the Mitchell Map:

The Most Important Map in American History

The map shows the cartographic features present in the first state of Palairet's map, predating the revision to show the northernmost boundary line as a straight line separating the British Hudson Bay claims from the French Canadian claim, along with a second latitudinal boundary line running through Canada.

Palairet's rare map and his accompanying pamphlet were published simultaneously in English and French and provide a fascinating picture of the North American Colonies on the eve of the French & Indian War. the relevant facts in dispute between the various claimant in North America on the eve of the French and Indian war in 69 pages. In the preface of his pamphlet, Palairet notes:

The method in which I have coloured it, will easily discover the English and French Possessions, as well the countries that are now the subject of contest between those two nations, as the forts which the French have built, or taken in the midst of the English Colonies, and in the countries claimed by the English.

The pamphlet describes the events leading up to the conflict in much detail. Together the map and pamphlet are very rare, so much so that Thomas Streeter believed his copy to be unique.

The map depicts the English Colonies in Yellow, the French Colonies in Green and what would become the areas under conflict during the French & Indian War in Pink. Consistent with the notes in the legend, the French forts are identified in red and most are also circled. Owing to his Dutch connections, Palairet's map was undoubtedly available very quickly in Amsterdam and this Dutch edition provides fine snapshot of the English vision of the French encroachments into regions which the English were seeking through alliances with the Indians and early settlements. It would be only a matter of months before the disputed area in Pink would become the subject matter of the North American Theater of the Seven Years (French & Indian) War, which would result in the near total expulsion of the French from North America.

A fine example, in strong original colors.

Reference
Sellers & Van Ee, 58
Reiner & Joshua Ottens Biography

The Ottens brothers, Reiner and Joshua, operated a successful printing partnership in the mid-eighteenth century (fl. 1726-1765). They began the venture in 1726, publishing maps and other prints as “R & I Ottens.” They specialized in the reprinting of others’ work, especially Guillaume De L’Isle. In 1750, Reiner died; his soon, also Reiner, took his place, but the firm began listing their works as “Joshua & Reiner Ottens.” The firm lasted until Joshua’s death in 1765. Joshua’s widow, Johanna de Lindt, sold their remaining stock of plates in 1784.