Nicolas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667), mapmaker to Louis XIV, King of France, was responsible for a renaissance in geographical endeavour in France, which paved the way for French domination in map production. The “French School of 

”, unprecedented in its attention to precision and scientific detail, discarded much of the decorative embellishments of previous maps. 

As a young man, Sanson began to make maps to supplement his study of history. A map of Ancient Gaul made early in his career brought him to the attention of Cardinal Richelieu. This foothold in the French court allowed him to rise to the position of 'Geographe du Roi', teaching both Louis XIII and Louis XIV. 

“However, his future success was partly owing to the partnership he made with the publisher Pierre Mariette. In 1644, the latter had purchased the business of Melchior Tavernier, and helped Sanson with financial support in producing the maps for his first planned atlas” (Burden), ‘Les Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde’ (1568) was the first folio French published atlas of the world.

In 1665, Sanson was joined in business by his sons Guillaume Sanson and Adrien Sanson. After his death, the firm was continued by his sons, a grandson, and Hubert Jaillot.


Nicolas Sanson’s map is one of the earliest world maps to depict the Great Lakes in North America with any accuracy, although it was not until he published his world map of 1656 that all five were named. 'Lac Superior', and the telling 'Lac des Puans' – Lake of Evil Smells - appear, but 'Erie' does not.  

California appears as an island for the second time in one of Sanson’s maps (preceded by its appearance in his ‘Amerique Septentrionale...’ 1650), perpetuating a myth that would not begin to be put to rest until the publication, in 1705, of Father Kino’s map that confirmed that the Gulf of California terminated at the mouth of the Colorado River and that California was a peninsula attached to the mainland, and not an island.

Nicolas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600–1667), mapmaker to Louis XIV of France, was responsible for a geographical renaissance in France and paved the way for the French School of 

, which came to dominate the map trade by the end of the century. As a young man, Sanson began to make maps to supplement his study of history. A map of Ancient Gaul, made early in his career brought him to the attention of Cardinal Richelieu. This foothold in the French court allowed him to rise to the position of ‘Geographe du Roi’, teaching both Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

His partnership with the publisher Pierre Mariette brought him success beyond the court. In 1644, Mariette purchased the business of Melchior Tavernier and helped Sanson with financial support in producing the maps for his first planned atlas, ‘Les Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde’ (1668), the first folio French-published atlas of the world.

In 1665, Sanson was joined in business by his sons Guillaume and Adrien. After Sanson’s death, the firm was continued by his sons, a grandson, and Hubert Jaillot.

Nicolas Sanson’s first world map, issued separately, heralds the dawn of the age of the French School of 

, characterized by sparse elegance and scientific precision. Sanson’s map is one of the earliest world maps to depict the Great Lakes in North America with any accuracy, although it was not until he published his world map of 1656 that all five were named. California appears as an island for the second time in one of Sanson’s maps, perpetuating an error that would not be corrected until 1705. 

Nicolas Sanson would “bring about the rise of French cartography, although the fierce competition of the Dutch would last until the end of the century. This shift in cartographic centres shadowed the relative fortunes of the two countries; France under Louis XIV was a growing power in Europe” (Burden 294).

Nicolas Sanson’s first world map, issued separately, and heralding the dawn of the age of the French School of 

, characterized by sparse elegance and scientific precision.

Double-page engraved copperplate double-hemisphere map of the world, with contemporary hand-colour in outline.

Sanson’s First World Map