13 Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772) – Map of Hudson Bay, Labrador and New Britain / Carte de la Baie de Hudson – From L’Histoire Générale des Voyages (1757)

Finely detailed 18th-century French map depicting the vast northern territories of Canada, including Hudson Bay, James Bay, Labrador, and the adjacent lands referred to as "Nouvelle Bretagne." This map was created by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin and published in 1757 as part of the monumental series L’Histoire Générale des Voyages by Antoine-François Prévost. It includes numerous bays, rivers, islands, and coastal features, with notes on French and English exploration, such as the comment in the northwest corner: “The English are searching for a passage here but it does not exist.”

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin was one of the most influential French cartographers of the 18th century. As Hydrographer to the French Navy and later Official Hydrographer to the King, he produced thousands of maps and charts that shaped the geographical understanding of the time. His work for the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine established France’s cartographic dominance in the Age of Discovery. The map was published in Paris in 1757.

Artist or Maker:

Jacques-Nicolas Bellin

Dimensions:

42 cm x 26 cm

Medium:

Hand-coloured engraving

Date:

1757

Condition Report:

This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.