Alexis-Hubert Jaillot (1632–1712), and Nicolas Sanson. L’Amerique Meridionale ...1695

Alexis-Hubert Jaillot (1632–1712), and Nicolas Sanson
L’Amerique Meridionale divisée en ses principales Parties…
Paris: Jaillot, circa 1695
Hand-colored copperplate engraving
Sheet size: 26 x 20 inches

This large-format and richly decorated map of South America was issued by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot based on the pioneering geography of Nicolas Sanson, royal geographer to Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Published in Paris around 1695, it reflects the grandeur and ambitions of French cartography during the reign of Louis XIV, presenting South America as a continent of vast colonial domains, mythical rivers, and distant frontiers.

The map is divided into the major European possessions of the time—Le Perou, Le Bresil, La Terre Ferme, and Chili—and features stylized mountain ranges, engraved rivers, and coastal cities. The interior is largely speculative, with fanciful place names and legendary geography still present in the Amazon basin and southern regions.

The title cartouche, emblazoned with allegorical figures and baroque ornamentation, underscores Jaillot’s dual role as publisher and courtly mapmaker. As a fusion of Sanson's pioneering work and Jaillot’s grand publishing vision, this map helped establish France’s dominance in decorative atlas production during the late 17th century.