A lovely map of southern Italy illustrating the Straits of Messina between Sicily and the mainland. It was first published separately in 1648 as dated and introduced into the first edition of Nicolas Sanson’s “Les Cartes Generales” in 1658. Sanson (1600-67) was to bring about the rise of French cartography, although the fierce competition of the Dutch would last until the end of the century. This shift in cartographic centres shadowed the relative fortunes of the two countries; France under Louis XIV was a growing power in Europe. Born in Abbeville, in the Picardy region of France, 1600, Sanson studied history and turned to cartography as a means of recording it. In 1630 he was made Géographe Ordinaire du Roi, and was to become one of the tutors to Louis XIV. However, his future success was partly owing to the partnership he made with the publisher Pierre Mariette. In 1644 the latter had purchased the business of Melchoir Tavernier, and helped Sanson with financial support in producing the maps for the planned atlas. His atlas is the first full world atlas to be produced in France. This work had been in development for several years as the dates on the various maps attest. A fine example of the first state. Pastoureau Sanson Va no. 79. Engraved by A. B. de la Plaets and published in Paris by Pierre Mariette. Pastoureau, M. Sanson V 80.