The importance of the early Sanson atlases of the 1650's

 THIS is the most important atlas of the 17th century with NEW information appearing on maps for the first time.  For me major discoveries depicted for the first time is most of the reason that a map can be called historically important. 

All the French expansion in the Western Hemisphere under the leadership of Louis XIV and to a lesser extent Louis XII and Henry IV appears in this atlas.   This is especially poignant because Louis XV lost 99% of these American lands with the Treaty of Paris of 1763 at the conclusion of the French and Indian War.   Our Sanson atlas is published in 1658/9 16 years after the beginning of Louix XIV reign in 1643.  So the Sun King is bracketed by Sanson at the beginning and Delisle at the end. 

The aesthetic bonus is the design motifs are the best in the 17th century without any serious competition.