Guillaume De L'Isle (1675-1726) is probably the greatest figure in French cartography. Having learned geography from his father Claude, by the age of eight or nine he could draw maps to demonstrate ancient history. He studied mathematics and astronomy under Cassini, from whom he received a superb grounding in scientific cartography—the hallmark of his work. His first atlas was published in ca. 1700. In 1702 he was elected a member of the Academie Royale des Sciences and in 1718 he became Premier Geographe du Roi.
De L'Isle's work was important as marking a transition from the maps of the Dutch school, which were highly decorative and artistically-orientated, to a more scientific approach. He reduced the importance given to the decorative elements in maps, and emphasized the scientific base on which they were constructed. His maps of the newly explored parts of the world reflect the most up-to-date information available and did not contain fanciful detail in the absence of solid information. It can be fairly said that he was truly the father of the modern school of cartography at the commercial level.
De L’Isle also played a prominent part in the recalculation of latitude and longitude, based on the most recent celestial observations. His major contribution was in collating and incorporating this latitudinal and longitudinal information in his maps, setting a new standard of accuracy, quickly followed by many of his contemporaries. Guillaume De L’Isle’s work was widely copied by other mapmakers of the period, including Chatelain, Covens & Mortier, and Albrizzi.
1745 state of this finely engraved map of America, published by Guillaume De L'Isle in Paris. De L'Isle's map of America was compiled from the best available source and includes significant modern cartographic detail for the period. California is...
Fine example of Buache's map of America, recently updates and improved to remove the sea of the west, based upon the discoveries of Cook and Russian explorers. This map gives extraordinary treatment to the region, although there is curiously no...
Detailed map of the Eastern Hemisphere, published in 1714 by De L'Isle. The map shows an incomplete Australian Coastline and early cartographic details in the Southern part of the hemisphere.
First Edition of De L’Isle’s Influential Map of the Northern Hemisphere Fine example of the first state of De L’Isle’s polar projection, focused on the Arctic. This map would become the prototype for a number of other eighteenth-century maps...
Fine Map of the Northern Hemisphere from Guillaume De L’Isle Covens and Mortier state of Guillaume De L'Isle's map of the Northern Hemisphere, originally published by De L'Isle in 1714. The map shows the entire Northern Hemisphere. The projection...
Fine Map of the Northern Hemisphere Rare Henri de Leth edition of Guillaume De L'Isle's map of the Northern Hemisphere, originally published by De L'Isle in 1714. The map shows the entire Northern Hemisphere. The projection has the opposite effect of...
![Carte Du Mexique et de la Floride des Terres Angloises et des Isles Antilles du Cours et des Environs de la Riviere Mississipi . . . Rue Des Canettes . . . 1703 [1st State]](/map/small/66307op.jpg)
A Cartographic Landmark -- The First Map To Accurately Depict the Course and Mouth of the Mississippi River Rare first state of the first printed map to accurately depict the course and mouth of the Mississippi River, published by Guillaume De L'Isle...
Rare Second State. Fine example of the second state of Guillaume De L'Isle's landmark map, the first printed map to accurately depict the course and mouth of the Mississippi River. De L'Isle's Carte du Mexique . . . is drawn from the reports brought...
![Carte De La Louisiane Et Du Cours Du Mississipi . . . Juin 1718 [1st State!]](/map/small/62086.jpg)
"The Mother and Main Source of All the Later Maps" of the Mississippi River and Interior Parts of the United States and The First Map to Name Texas First state of De L'Isle's seminal map, one of the most important and influential maps of the 18th...
First Map To Name New Orleans -- "The Mother and Main Source of All the Later Maps" of the Mississippi River and Interior Parts of the United States and The First Map to Name Texas Second state of De L'Isle's seminal map, one of the most important and...
Seminal Early Map of Canada & The Great Lakes -- One of The First Maps To Reference The Rocky Mountains Nice example of Guillaume De L'Isle's map of Canada, the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, one of the most important and influential maps of...
De L’Isle’s Foundational Map of North America, with Milestone Depictions of the Mapping of the Mississippi and California This is a striking example of De L'Isle's highly important map of North America. It is the first to correctly place the mouth...
Nice example of Philippe Buache's edition of De L'Isle's map of the southern part of South America. The map shows the routes of a number of 17th century explorers in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as a marvelous and highly annotated...
Nice example of De L'Isle's map of the British Isles, bearing the scarce imprint of "Quai de Horloge a l'Aigle d'Or." (the Golden Eagle). The source for the map are John Speed (England & Wales), Timothy Pont (Scotland) and William Petty...
De L'Isle's map of the Rhine River and neighboring regions, from Strassbourg in the north to the Swiss Alps.
Highly detailed map of the Diocese of Toul, published in Paris by Guillaume De L'Isle. The map is centered on the cities of Nancy and Toul and including Metz, Verdun, S. Dizier, Nas, Neuchataeu, Mircourt, Remiremont, Pagi, etc. Shows towns, castles,...
