Carte Geographique de la Nouvelle Franse is Champlain's monumental documentation of his own discoveries of 1603 - 1612. Published in 1613, this map drawn by Champlain was a clear and forceful assertion of France's possession of a vast portion of the New World.

This map is a remarkably comprehensive and detailed record of many of Champlain's innumerable discoveries. The coastlines of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy are thoroughly shown. Quebec City, founded by Champlain, is drawn as a citadel flying the French flag.

Further west along the St. Lawrence, Champlain indicates and names Montreal. Continuing west, he begins the cartography of the Great Lakes, presenting Lake Ontario as "Lac Contenant 15 journees des canaux des sauvages": its geographic expanse projected on the basis of Indian reports that it could be crossed by canoe in fifteen days.

This annotated map is beautifully engraved and elaborately decorated with sailing ships, detailed drawings of indigenous flora and fauna and early depictions of Native Americans.

About Samuel de Champlain

Champlain's geographic discoveries of 1603 - 1612 had profound cartographic and political effects. His own mapmaker, Champlain drew the most comprehensive and accurate maps of a vast portion of North America. His discoveries and claims in the New World established French possession of what we know as New France.

Exploring the St. Lawrence, Champlain founded what became the city of Quebec. He initiated the cartography of the Great Lakes and, to the south, he mapped the New England coast including Boston harbor, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.