This product is successfully added to your cart
Questions about this product? (#28376)

Authenticity Guarantee
All items are guaranteed authentic prints (woodcuts or engravings) or manuscripts made at or about (c.) the given date and in good condition unless stated otherwise. We don’t sell facsimiles or reproductions. We deliver every map with a Certificate of Authenticity containing all the details.

California as an island
The Americas by Guillaume Sanson. 1692

An attempt by Sanson to show ancient North and South America in a contemporary outline (Tooley). 
America is called 'The Island of Atlantis' and is divided into regions named after the sons of Neptune.
The map shows fragments of the Australian continent, interpreting New World geography in the light of the narratives and opinions of classical authors, especially Plato. His Timeus and Critias are quoted in several places on the map, suggesting that the Atlanteans had, in ancient times, invaded Europe. Seneca is quoted on the future existence of the New World and its distance from the Old, and Claudius Aelianus on the size, etc., of the other world.


SANSON FAMILY

Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) - Guillaume Sanson (1633-1703) - Pierre Moullart-Sanson (? -1730)

Originally from Abbeville, Nicolas I Sanson showed a keen interest in historical geography. He was still very young; he published a map of ancient Gaul and two treatises, Britannia and Portus Itius on Abbeville and Boulogne's origins. His meeting with Melchior Tavernier was decisive: it prompted him to give up his duties as a military engineer in Picardy and devote himself to engraved cartography.

At the same time, Sanson had drawn up the outline of modern France. He got the help of Tavernier, who encouraged him to compete with the Dutch map publishers. Tavernier contacted other French cartographers whose works he published.

From 1643, N. Sanson obtained a privilege to publish a work personally, the Princes souverains de l'Italie. Then, in 1644 and 1645, he had his famous geographical tables printed, which significantly contributed to his fame. He also published a series of atlases in quarto of the four continents.

In 1648, N. Sanson associated himself with Mariette to publish atlases. From then on, specific maps bore his name and others Mariette's. N. Sanson and Mariette worked together for more than 20 years. After the death of N. Sanson, Mariette acquired the entire fund. Since Mariette only wanted to publish complete atlases, individual maps were no longer sold, and some army generals complained to the king.

The disagreement between the Sanson family and Pierre II Mariette culminated in 1671 when Guillaume Sanson took the case to court. There was no longer any question of collaboration: Guillaume Sanson started working for another publisher, Alexis-Hubert Jaillot.

The Sanson family faced financial difficulties, and in 1692, their cousin, Pierre Moullart-Sanson, bought the entire geographic fund from his uncles and aunt. Pierre Moullart-Sanson was the son of Françoise Sanson (third child of Nicolas) and Pierre Moullart. He restarted the publishing of Sanson's world atlas, and in 1704 he acquired a privilege for publishing all the works of Nicolas and Guillaume Sanson, which continued to be published until 1730.

back

Atlantis Insula.

€900  ($981 / £756)
add to cart
Buy now
questions?
PRINT

Item Number:  28376 Authenticity Guarantee

Category:  Antique maps > America > The Americas

Old, antique map of America, by Sanson Nicolas.

California is shown as an island.

Title: Atlantis Insula.
a Nicolao Sanson Antiquitati Restituta; Nunc demum Majori Forma Delineata, et in Decem Regna, Iuxta Decem Neptuni Filios Distributa.
Praeterea Insule, nostraeq. Continentis Regiones quibus Imperavere Atlantici Reges; aut quas Armis Tentavere.
ex Conatibus Geographicis Gulielmi Sanson Nicolai Filii.
MDCLVIIII.
Cum Privilegio dd Viginti Annos
Lutetiae Parisiorum.
Apud Autorem in Aedibus Regus 1690.

Date of the first edition: 1669.
Date of this map: 1692.
Date on map: 1690.

Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Map size: 400 x 560mm (15.75 x 22.05 inches).
Sheet size: 445 x 610mm (17.52 x 24.02 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Excellent.
Condition Rating: A+.
References: Burden, #405, state 3; McLaughlin, #46; Tooley (America), p. 124 #51; Pastoureau, Sanson V D [208]

From: Les tables et les cartes de la Geographie Ancienne et Nouvelle ou methode pour s'instruire avec facilité de la Geographie, et connoistre les empires, monarchies, royaumes, estats, republiques et peuples, tant anciens que nouveaux, de toutes les parties du monde en combien de regions particulieres ou provinces ils se subdivisent, et quelles en sont les villes les plus considerables. Par les Srs Sanson Geographes ordinaire du Roy. A Paris, chez l'autheur, aux Galleries du Louvre, 1692. Avec privilege pour vingt ans. (Pastoureau, Sanson V H 1692)

An attempt by Sanson to show ancient North and South America in a contemporary outline (Tooley). 
America is called 'The Island of Atlantis' and is divided into regions named after the sons of Neptune.
The map shows fragments of the Australian continent, interpreting New World geography in the light of the narratives and opinions of classical authors, especially Plato. His Timeus and Critias are quoted in several places on the map, suggesting that the Atlanteans had, in ancient times, invaded Europe. Seneca is quoted on the future existence of the New World and its distance from the Old, and Claudius Aelianus on the size, etc., of the other world.


SANSON FAMILY

Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) - Guillaume Sanson (1633-1703) - Pierre Moullart-Sanson (? -1730)

Originally from Abbeville, Nicolas I Sanson showed a keen interest in historical geography. He was still very young; he published a map of ancient Gaul and two treatises, Britannia and Portus Itius on Abbeville and Boulogne's origins. His meeting with Melchior Tavernier was decisive: it prompted him to give up his duties as a military engineer in Picardy and devote himself to engraved cartography.

At the same time, Sanson had drawn up the outline of modern France. He got the help of Tavernier, who encouraged him to compete with the Dutch map publishers. Tavernier contacted other French cartographers whose works he published.

From 1643, N. Sanson obtained a privilege to publish a work personally, the Princes souverains de l'Italie. Then, in 1644 and 1645, he had his famous geographical tables printed, which significantly contributed to his fame. He also published a series of atlases in quarto of the four continents.

In 1648, N. Sanson associated himself with Mariette to publish atlases. From then on, specific maps bore his name and others Mariette's. N. Sanson and Mariette worked together for more than 20 years. After the death of N. Sanson, Mariette acquired the entire fund. Since Mariette only wanted to publish complete atlases, individual maps were no longer sold, and some army generals complained to the king.

The disagreement between the Sanson family and Pierre II Mariette culminated in 1671 when Guillaume Sanson took the case to court. There was no longer any question of collaboration: Guillaume Sanson started working for another publisher, Alexis-Hubert Jaillot.

The Sanson family faced financial difficulties, and in 1692, their cousin, Pierre Moullart-Sanson, bought the entire geographic fund from his uncles and aunt. Pierre Moullart-Sanson was the son of Françoise Sanson (third child of Nicolas) and Pierre Moullart. He restarted the publishing of Sanson's world atlas, and in 1704 he acquired a privilege for publishing all the works of Nicolas and Guillaume Sanson, which continued to be published until 1730.

References: Burden - #405 state 3; McLaughlin - #46; Tooley (America) - p. 124 #51; Pastoureau - Sanson V D [208]

Related items

America, by Willem Blaeu.

Americae nova Tabula. 1647-49
America, by Willem Blaeu.
[Item number: 6717]

€4800  ($5232 / £4032)
America, by Briet Ph.

California as an island
La Division de l'Ocean du Nouveau Monde 1648
America, by Briet Ph.
[Item number: 17771]

€320  ($348.8 / £268.8)
Antique map of America by Tirion I.

Nieuwe Kaart van America c. 1770
Antique map of America by Tirion I.
[Item number: 19194]

€280  ($305.2 / £235.2)
AMERICA by Giovanni Magini

America. 1597
AMERICA by Giovanni Magini
[Item number: 22492]

€430  ($468.7 / £361.2)
America, by Abraham Ortelius.

Americae Sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio. 1598
America, by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 25618]

€3800  ($4142 / £3192)
America by A.F. Zürner, published by Petrus Schenk.

Americae tam Septentrionalis quam Meridionalis in Mappa Geographica Delineatio. c. 1700
America by A.F. Zürner, published by Petrus Schenk.
[Item number: 25715]

€1400  ($1526 / £1176)
America, by Francesco Santini.

L'Amerique Divisée en ses Principaux Etats Assujettie aux Observations Astronomiqes. 1776-79
America, by Francesco Santini.
[Item number: 26978]

€420  ($457.8 / £352.8)
World + Continents, by Jodocus Hondius.

Typus Orbis Terrarum, [in set with:] Europa, [and] Asia, [and] Americae Descrip., [and] Africae Descriptio. 1607
World + Continents, by Jodocus Hondius.
[Item number: 27088]

€2400  ($2616 / £2016)
America, by Gerard Mercator.

America sive India Nova, ad magnae Gerardi Mercatoris avu Universalis imitationem, in compendium redacta. 1623
America, by Gerard Mercator.
[Item number: 27752]

€3200  ($3488 / £2688)
America, by François Halma.

Original Halma edition.
L'Amerique selon les Nouvelles Observations de Messrs. de l'Academie des Sciences, etc. Before 1713
America, by François Halma.
[Item number: 28017]

€3800  ($4142 / £3192)
America by Frederick de Wit, published by Covens & Mortier.

Novissima et Accuratissima Septentrionalis ac Meridionalis Americae. c. 1715
America by Frederick de Wit, published by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 28295]

€2100  ($2289 / £1764)
America, by Giovanni Lorenzo d'Anania, published by Girolamo Ruscelli.

America. 1598
America, by Giovanni Lorenzo d'Anania, published by Girolamo Ruscelli.
[Item number: 28432]

€800  ($872 / £672)
America by Jodocus Hondius.

America. 1613
America by Jodocus Hondius.
[Item number: 28530]

€3500  ($3815 / £2940)
Pacific Ocean by Abraham Ortelius.

Maris Pacifici, (quod vulgo Mar del Zur) cum regionibus circumiacentibus, insulisque in codem passim sparsis, novissima descriptio. 1601
Pacific Ocean by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 28744]

€5500  ($5995 / £4620)
Pacific Coast of America, by Frederick de Wit.

Novae Hispaniae, Chili, Peruviae, et Guatimalae Littorae. ca. 1680
Pacific Coast of America, by Frederick de Wit.
[Item number: 29177]

€980  ($1068.2 / £823.2)
Pacific Ocean, by Frederick de Wit.

Magnum Mare del Zur cum Insula California = De Groote Zuyd-Zee en 't Eylandt California. c. 1680
Pacific Ocean, by Frederick de Wit.
[Item number: 29241]

€3100  ($3379 / £2604)
America by Sebastian Münster.

Le table des neufues lesquelles on appelle isles d'Occident & d'Indie pour divers regard. 1555
America by Sebastian Münster.
[Item number: 30379]

€4600  ($5014 / £3864)
Map of the southern Pacific, showing a part of the path of George Anson's voyage around the world.

Carte de la Mer du Sud ou Mer Pacifique entre l'Equateur et le 39.5 de Latitude Septentrionale. - Kaart van de Zuyd-Zee of Stille Oceaan ... 1751
Map of the southern Pacific, showing a part of the path of George Anson's voyage around the world.
[Item number: 30609]

€360  ($392.4 / £302.4)
Chart of the Northern Pacific Ocean, Northeastern Asia, and Alaska by John Meares.

Carta del Mar Pacifico del Nord che comprende la Costa Nord-Ouest d'America 1796
Chart of the Northern Pacific Ocean, Northeastern Asia, and Alaska by John Meares.
[Item number: 30731]

€430  ($468.7 / £361.2)