Atlas Historique, ou Nouvelle Introduction à l'Histoire,

Attractive example of the first edition of this encyclopaedic historical atlas with the celebrated 4-sheet map of the Americas.

Although the main focus of the text was geography, the work also included a wealth of historical, political, and genealogical information. Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743), his father Zacharie Chatelain (d.1723) and Zacharie Junior (1690-1754), worked as a partnership publishing the 'Atlas Historique' under several different Chatelain imprints, depending on the Chatelain family partnerships at the time of publication, as it was reissued by the two surviving brothers in 1732-39.

The sixth volume relates mostly to the Americas and contains the 'Carte très curieuse de la Mer du Sud', depicting the history of discovery in the western hemisphere from the time of Columbus to the French explorations in North America up to the late seventeenth century.

In addition to the maps, many of which are based on such as those of Dapper, Chardin, le Bruyn, Le Hay and others, covering China, Japan, Persia, Egypt, Russia as well as the Americas there are early images of native peoples, such as 'Esquimaux', 'Hurons', 'Iroquois', 'Cannibales', 'Hottentots', 'Namaquas' etc.

First edition; 7 vols, folio (44 x 28 cm); engraved allegorical titles to vols I, II, IV, V, and VII, 281 engraved plates including maps, genealogical tables, many plates with inset vignettes of arms and portraits, some double page or folding, ink mark to plate 36 vol 1, spotting to lower margin of plate 27 of vol 2, bruise to outer margin xx2-B2 of vol 4, large folding plate 30 to vol 6 with fold tears repaired; later nineteenth-century half red morocco, red cloth boards, spine lettered in gilt in six gilt compartments, a touch of rubbing, a small dent to lower board of vol 1, else a fine set.

Koemann II, cha 1-7; Tooley 80; Wagner 511; McLaughlin 190; Goss, North America 52.