CARTE GENERALE DES DECOUVERTES de l'Amiral de Fonte,representant la grande possibilite d'un PASSAGE AU NORD OUEST.

A fascinating map of the Northwestern part of America, illustrating the reports of De L'Isle of the Russian discoveries in the region prior to 1750, which he obtained during his time working in the court at St. Petersburg.
The map was used by Diderot to illustrate the great debate between Buache and Jefferys, which provided radically different accounts of the region. Ultimately, the discoveries during Cook's first voyage put and end to the debate.
This map tracks the voyages of Tchirikow, Frondat, Bering, and others during the first part of the 18th century, and credits De Fuca, d'Aguilar and De Font with discoveries on the NW Coast.
The Massive Sea of the West is drawn from Buache's model, with numerous other wide watercourses both through the central continent and above the Arctic Circle, all richly annotated with source information. An essential map for regional collectors.