1744 Bellin Map of the Gulf Coast: Mississippi Delta, New Orleans, Mobile Bay, St. Marks River

The extremely scarce first edition first state of Bellin's important 1744 map of the Gulf Coast from New Orleans past Mobile Bay, as far east as Apalachicola Bay and the St. Marks River. Though still quite speculative, Bellin's rendition of this little known coastline was, at the time, among the best available. The cartographer charts the course of the Mississippi River with some care noting both the 'Detour des Piaquemines' and the English Turn or 'Detour a L'Anglois.' Most of the delta is represented as a fertile grassland, but some forested regions suitable for European settlement are noted near the Abandoned French Fort de la Boulaye. Following the map eastward along the coastline Bellin offers details as they were available. The sites of various battles and massacres are identified as are American Indian villages, mission stations, fortifications, and European entrapots such as Biloxi, Mobile, St. Marc, and indeed New Orleans itself. A Spanish settlement is noted near the Apalachicola River and St. Joseph Bay (Baye St. Joseph) a clear reminder that much of this territory, though claimed by various European powers and American Indian nations, remained very much up for grabs. Mobile Bay, situated near the center of the map, is vaguely formed with Bon Secour Bay being vastly under represented. In the far northwest corner of the map lies the Natchez Trace or Natchez Road. This network of linked game trails is one of the world's oldest roadways, well used centuries before the arrival of Europeans. At the time Bellin drew this map the Natchez Trace was a major trade artery for Choctaw, Natchez, and Chicasaw.

Bellin originally prepared this map to illustrate Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix's Histoire et description generale de la Nouvelle France. It was most likely engraved by Guillaume Dheulland. Charlevoix's history and this map in particular thus proved exceptionally influential as one of the most comprehensive works on North America predating the French and Indian War. Copies of the Histoire et description generale were to be found in the libraries of many 18th century luminaries, including Voltaire, Franklin, and Jefferson. Jefferson especially admired Charlevoix's work, calling it 'a particularly useful species of reading' and no doubt influenced his decision to pursue the historic 1802 Louisiana Purchase, possibly the most significant event in the post-colonial history of North America.