Guillaume De l’Isle’s “Map of Louisiana and the Mississippi River” is one of the most famous maps in American history, what cartographers call, because of its accuracy and eloquence, a “mother map,” a map in this case that spurred great imitation, innovation, and political thought. The map was originally published in 1718, the year this mapmaker was appointed Chief Geographer to the King (Louis XIV). This map of New France was used as a reference point for another half century and considered the most authoritative of the Mississippi Valley. It tracked the expeditions of De Soto, de Tonty and Louis de St. Denis. De l’Isle’s importance for the St. Louis region is inarguable. His map of Louisiana is informed of the best authorities to his time. It is the first map to correct the position of the mouth of the Mississippi, and locate it accurately. A magisterial contribution to subsequent mapmaking is De l’Isle’s correct depiction and alignment of the Mississippi River and the accurate positioning of the Mississippi Valley as a whole.
From: Atlas Nouveau Contenant Toutes Les Parties du Monde.
