Louis XIVs vast land acquisition and the map that illustrated it best for the first time - The Delisile Carte du Canada of 1703 - the first issue.

 It is a compelling story that the French dont like to acknowledge.  Louis XIV ruled from 1643 to 1715 - the longest reign of any French King.  During that time of constant war he amassed over 40% of the landmass of North America using the highly skilled labors of the Jesuits primarily.

By 1715 all of  his children and grandchildren had died.  It was his great grandson that took over - Louis XV.  He ruled from 1715 to 1774 and during that time found a way to lose 99% of all French territory in America.   Tellingly he only kept two sugar islands in the West Indies - Guadeloupe and Martinique.   Most of his time was spent with mistresses chiefly Madame de Pompadour and very little with his generals!  They were terribly embarrassed that the English defeated them in every battle without exception.   But they achieved towering revenge finally in 1781 which is another story to be told while looking at a painting given by Paul Mellon to the Knickerbocker Club.

So the cartographic masterpiece for the French highest power in America was the celebrated 1703 Delille map of Canada.

The first issue published at Rue de Canette is of legendary rarity and importance.