First Map to Name United States [Carte du Theatre de la Guerre Actuel Entre les Anglais et les Treize Colonies Unies de l’Amerique Septentrionale dresse par J.B. Eliot Ingénieurs des Etas-Unis]

Artist or Author: J.B. Eliot

Work: Carte du Theatre de la Guerre Actuel Entre les Anglais et les Treize Colonies Unies de l’Amerique Septentrionale dresse par J.B. Eliot Ingénieurs des Etas-Unis

Date of Publication: 1778

Style: Engraving with Original Outline Color

Paper Size: ~ 21 1/2" by 30" (Fold Out)

Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There is a slight binder's crease near the fold. The left plate mark is to the left edge or slightly cropped. Map image area generally in quite nice condition. There may be some faint offset due to the fold out nature of the plate. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work:

This exceptional map is J.B. Eliot’s Carte du Theatre de la Guerre Actuel Entre les Anglais et les Treize Colonies Unies de l’Amerique Septentrionale dresse par J.B. Eliot Ingénieurs des Etas-Unis. It was published in 1778 in Paris by Louis-Joseph Mondhare.

This map is exceedingly important in American history, as it is thought to be the first map that explicitly names the United States, or “Etas-Unis” in French. This is the third of four states of the map. It is significant that the French published this map in 1778, as they allied with the United States during the American Revolution in the same year, and would have wanted to quickly establish their new allies as a separate political entity by ensuring that the name, “United States”, was published on a map.The map itself depicts British and American troop marching lines in 1777.