The FIRST PRINTED MAP TO NAME AND ILLUSTRATE ALL FIVE GREAT LAKES. A rare map which predates the Nicolas Sanson map of 1650 traditionally believed to be the first. This fact was not recognised before the publication of Burden’s ‘The Mapping of North America’ in 1996. “The important Samuel de Champlain map of 1632 is here reduced to a more marketable size, and the second state is used which contained minor alterations. Jean Boisseau was an active publisher of the period and unusually was also an enlumineur, or colourist. He improves upon the Champlain by incorporating the names that were only keyed before. There is no real recognition of the English presence in North America beyond Immestan and Chesapeacq Bay. The nomenclature in New England is entirely that of Champlain.

“Lac St Louis (Lake Ontario) leads upriver to a reduced size Lac Derie (Lake Erie), this was because Champlain, unaware of its size, had only second-hand knowledge to rely upon. This leads to a more recognisable MER DOVCE OV LAC (Lake Huron), the freshwater sea, and Grand Lac (Lake Superior). Lake Michigan is believed by some authorities to be represented by the river system leading into it from the south called Grande Riuiere qui vient du midy. However, on Sanson’s map of 1650 Lake Michigan is represented by Lac des Puans, which is here named to the north-east of Grand Lac. On Champlain’s map both Lakes Erie and Michigan were unnamed. Although the configuration and size of them are incorrect, this is the first map to delineate and identify all five Great Lakes. The Ottawa River is named the R des Algonmequins, and leads from I de Montreal upriver to Lac des Biserenis (Lake Nipissing)” (Burden). This is an example of the rare first state. Burden (1996) 261; Kershaw (1993) pp. 82-3/ Pastoureau (1984) p. 67/ Verner & Stuart-Stubbs (1979) pp. 24-5 & 235-6.