This rare 1719 map of the Mississippi River is one of the first maps printed in English to name Texas (Mission de los Tejas established in 1716, near present-day Nacogdoches on the Trinity River, referred to the earliest of the Spanish missions in East Texas). It is also an important cartographic achievement because of the fine details of the Gulf Region and the Mississippi (including the locations of Indian tribes such as the Karankawa) as well as the charting of land routes of earlier centuries (including Denis’ explorations throughout Texas in 1713 and 1716 - and the locale of LaSalle’s camp established in 1685).
This map is filled with information on mining and the Indians, including villages, hunting grounds, promiscuous nations and nations destroyed. Early roads and explorers’ tracks are meticulously delineated with extensive notations. The map warns of Wandering Indians & Maneaters along the Texas coast. The allegorical title cartouche celebrates the wealth of the region with a mighty river god, Fame blowing her trumpet atop the cartouche holding richly laden cornucopias and symbols of mining.
