Scarce example of De Vaugondy's first large format map of North America.
The region east of the Appalachians is referred to as Chouanous et Cheraquis. Extensive notes on the Mississippi Valley Indians, French and English forts and other details. The river systems which drain into the Mississippi are also of note, along with the Belle Riviere, which seems to extend from southern Kansas or northern Oklahoma to the west, quite uniquely and mythically so. The coast of California still includes Nlle. Albion, Quivira and the entrance discovered by Martin d'Augilar. The lands to the north are Terres Inconnues. The Missouri River extends far into the west.
This first map is very different than the map included in later editions of De Vaugondy's atlases and was probably originally a separate issue.
The early example pre-dates the inclusion of the large inset map in the upper left corner of the map (showing the Northwest Part of America) and offers a very different treatment of the Great Lakes and the Midwest, among other changes.
Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) was the head of a leading family of geographers in eighteenth century France. Gilles got his start when he jointly inherited the shop of Pierre-Moullart Sanson, grandson of the famous geographer Nicholas Sanson. The inheritance included the business, its stock of plates, and a roller press. In 1760 Gilles became geographer to King Louis XV. His son, Didier Robert de Vaugondy (ca. 1723-1786), was also a geographer and the two worked together. They were known for their exactitude and depth of research. In 1757, they produced the Atlas Universel, considered an authority for many years.