Henri Chatelain’s 1719 Carte du Canada ou de la Nouvelle France, & des Decouvertes qui ont été faites presents an authoritative early-eighteenth-century vision of northern North America, sweeping from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi and up to the icy reaches of Hudson Bay. The composition is anchored by an ornate explanatory cartouche and a Remarque Historique that frames the rise of New France in learned prose. Within this grand tableau, Chatelain achieves a notable milestone: one of the first accurate placements of Detroit, charted only years after its founding, alongside the established colonial pillars of Montreal and Quebec. Rivers lace the land like arteries—the Ottawa, the Illinois, and the Mississippi among them—while the Great Lakes form a shimmering inland sea that structures the geography, the commerce, and the ambitions of an expanding Atlantic world.

Chatelain, the polymath compiler of the Atlas Historique, excelled at marrying rigorous geography with erudite narrative. Drawing on Guillaume De L’Isle’s groundbreaking measurements—especially the corrected outlines of the Great Lakes—he transformed technical cartography into an encyclopedic stage set for exploration and empire. His map is studded with annotations that name explorers and their routes, from the St. Lawrence corridor to the continental interior, and even nods to northern claims under the rubric of “Nouveau Danemarc.” The Remarque Historique situates these discoveries within a longer chronology, allowing the viewer to track how scattered voyages, trading posts, and mission stations congealed into a coherent French geographic imagination of Canada and its borderlands.

Water defines the structure and strategy of this map. The chain of Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario is rendered with a clarity that elevates their role as the hinge between the Atlantic and the continental heartland. Detroit sits precisely on the strait that links Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, a new linchpin controlling passage between upper and lower lakes. To the south and west, the Mississippi courses through French ambition, its corridor punctuated by forts such as St. Louis or Crevecoeur near today’s Peoria—evidence of La Salle’s bold design to connect the St. Lawrence world to the Gulf of Mexico. Chatelain’s labels and notes trace these waterborne corridors, revealing the practical pathways by which furs, news, and ideas moved.

The northern and western reaches mix empirical knowledge with tantalizing speculation. Along Hudson Bay and the subarctic coastlines, the map identifies the “Eskimaux,” while inland territories record the “Christinaux or Kilistinons,” reflecting Europe’s growing awareness of Indigenous homelands engaged in the fur trade. In the interior, the celebrated “Riviere Longue” appears—an echo of contemporary debates sparked by Baron de Lahontan—extending a hypothetical waterway toward the unknown West. Such features do not weaken the map; they articulate the boundary where confirmed observation yielded to conjecture, and where competing European claims, signaled by notes like “Nouveau Danemarc,” brushed the fringes of ice-choked seas and unmapped plains.

Politically, the sheet captures a moment when New France’s reach was broad but borders remained fluid, braided through alliances, rivers, and posts rather than fixed lines. Montreal and Quebec City emerge as keystones of administration and commerce, their influence projected through missions and forts that stud the lakeshores and riverbanks. Chatelain’s synthesis—De L’Isle’s precision enriched with historical commentary—turns the geography of Canada and the Great Lakes into a narrative of contest and connection. By uniting hard-won measurements with chronicles of explorers and nations, and by fixing Detroit with striking accuracy so early in its life, the map offers a rare, lucid window into how Europe pictured North America at a pivotal juncture.

Cities and towns on this map

• Montreal
• Quebec City
• Detroit
• Peoria (historically noted as the site of the fort 'St. Louis' or 'Crevecouer')

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Major Bodies of Water: Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, several rivers including the Mississippi River.
• Cartouche: An ornate decorative element that includes an explanation of the map’s content.
• Notes on Exploration: Annotations detailing explorers and their associated discoveries, such as 'Nouveau Danemarc'.
• Indigenous Tribes: Labels identifying regions inhabited by native tribes, such as the "Christinaux or Kilistinons" and "Eskimaux".
• Mythical River: The representation of the "Riviere Longue".
• Military Forts: Location of French forts like 'St. Louis' or 'Crevecouer'.
• "Remarque Historique": A historical note explaining the context of New France throughout time.

Historical and design context

• Date Created: 1719
• Mapmaker: Henri Chatelain — produced as part of his Atlas Historique and known for enhancing earlier cartographic works, notably those of De L'Isle.
• Themes: Political and physical representation of Canada, the Great Lakes, and surrounding areas; depicts significant explorers and discoveries, showcasing European exploration in North America.
• Countries/Regions: Canada, regions around the Great Lakes, parts of present-day United States, and references to various indigenous tribes.
• Design & Style: Features a rich and colorful depiction, with a highly ornate cartouche reflecting the artistic style of the period.
• Historical Significance: One of the first maps to accurately locate Detroit shortly after its founding; represents a pivotal moment in North American cartographic history and offers insight into European understandings of the continent in the early 18th century.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 90in (230cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.