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Carte des Etats-Unis de L’Amerique Suivant le Traité de Paix de 1783. Dédiée et Présentée A.S. Excellence Mr. Benjamin Franklin Ministre Plénipotentiaire des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique…
Paris: chez Delamarche, 1784 [ca. 1791]. Hand-colored engraving, 21.375” x 30” plus margins. CONDITION: Very good, slight edgewear, .5” Japanese tissue repair to verso at lower margin along one of three vertical folds. A lovely example of the first French map of the recently established United States, dedicated to Benjamin Franklin, with pleasing original color. First published in June of 1784, immediately after the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, which brought the Revolutionary War to a conclusion, Lattré’s map is largely based on John Mitchell’s 1755 Map of the British and French Dominions of North America, renowned for its authoritative role in defining the boundaries of the new nation. The territory shown extends from Hudson Bay in the north to northern Florida in the south, and from the east coast to the regions just beyond the Mississippi River. An inset map of lower Florida and a list of the states appear to the right of the coastline at the bottom. The marvelous cartouche at lower right depicts the stern of the ship of state and two sails, one above the other, which serve as “canvases” for the principal elements of the design. The title appears on the lower sail and includes a dedication to Minister Plenipotentiary Benjamin Franklin, who had led the American delegation of peace commissioners during the treaty negotiations with Great Britain. A sailor perches on the yardarm above the lower sail, from which position he has been busy hanging across the face of the upper sail the recently designed Federal shield, the Franklin family coat of arms, and the arms of the Society of the Cincinnati. Beside the sailor a flag featuring the Federal shield flutters in the breeze. All in all, this handsome design constitutes a ringing celebration of the new nation and an emphatic nod to one of its leading citizens. Lester Cappon (The First French Map of the United States) suggests that Lattré may have presented a copy of his map to Franklin at the eminent American’s residence in Passy. Whether this happened or not, the map reflects Franklin’s enormous popularity in France and the esteem in which Lattré held him. The map was separately published and is known in three states. This is the third state, with the addition of Washington, D.C. to the main map and Vermont to the list of states, both signifying a post-1791 publication date. Two lists of events in the Revolutionary War were printed separately and added to some copies of the map. However, the intent seems to have largely failed, as only a few examples of the map with the additional text are known. “Lattré’s Carte des Etats-Unis is one of the most attractively designed and executed maps of the period...” (Ristow). A gorgeous example of this important cartographic tribute to the fledgling United States. REFERENCES: McCorkle 784.10; Ristow p. 63; Sellers & Van Ee, p. 158; Cappon, Lester. The First French Map of the United States.
Item #9215
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