Illus: "Huronum explicata tabula;" 17.2 x 22.0; 1 inch to 4 "leucarum francicarum horariarum. Martyrdom of the Jesuit Fathers; 21.5 x 34.2. Numerous other illustrations of natives, canoes, houses and animals.
Dimensions of original in Paris: - to outside neat line: 50.6 x 74.6; plate size: 51.2 x 75.3. Restriction: NA has only an original of the west sheet, permission to publish in its entirety is needed (from the Bibliotheque nationale in Paris, or the osterreichische Nationalbibliothek (National Library of Austria) in Vienna. (as per L. Cardinal - Oct. 13/1999).
Possibly the most accurate map of the Great Lakes region prior to 1670 and one of the most beautiful and important maps of Eastern Canada ever made. The map covers the area of Canada west to Lake Huron and is remarkably accurate in its delineation of the area shown. Father Francesco Bressani, an Italian Jesuit priest who spent a considerable amount of time among the Hurons of Canada, probably was the author of this map. G.F. Pesca, also Italian, was likely the engraver. Although Bressani obviously based his map on either the 1650 or 1656 Sanson map of Canada, his map can be said to be more accurate than Sanson's especially in the Great Lakes area. This is likely due to the fact that Bressani incorporated the records of his own travels in the area into the map.
The illustrations depicting the martyrdom of Brébeuf and Lalemant is a very powerful representation and is possibly the earliest in existence. Original in Bibliothèque nationale (Paris). Cartes et plans Rés. Ge DD 2897 B (8580). The sepia representation was done in 1966 by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for inclusion in the June 1966 issue of the Canadian Geographical Journal. The National Map Collection does hold an original probably a restrike copy of the west, or left sheet of the Bressani map.
200; 1100
An original of the East sheet of the Bressani map has been acquired in 2002. It is catalogued in the AMICUS system under call number G3400 1657 .B73 East H3, NMC 194824. A restrike of the West sheet from the original plate is available under G3400 1657 .B73 West H3, NMC 6338 = Un original de la feuille Est de la carte de Bressani a été acquis en 2002 et il est disponible dans la base AMICUS, cote G3400 1657 .B73 East H3, NMC 194824. Un réimpression de la feuille ouest à partir de la planche originale est disponible, cote G3400 1657 .B73 West 3, NMC 6338. See also H12/900/1657 for a copy of the west sheet of the map made from the original plate. For more complete notes see: C. Heidenreich, "Maps relating to the first half of the 17th century ..." in: The Cartographer, vol. 3, December 1966, no. 2, pp. 105-109.
![Novae Franciae accurata delineatio 1657. [F.G. Bressani S.J., Giovanni Frederico Pesca, sc.].](/images/folder-80.png){kind=small}