ABOUT THE ART
One of the most influential world maps of the 18th century, restored, ready to hang with framed options, and sure to create interest and conversation. Dated 15 April 1720 in Delisle's own privilege cartouche, this is a high quality, highly detailed reproduction of the genuine first edition - commissioned for the young King Louis XV and engraved by Guillaume Delisle, First Geographer to the King.
This double-hemisphere masterpiece marked France's break from decorative Dutch cartography toward scientific, exploration-based mapmaking - and carries Delisle's own imprint from the Quay de l'Horloge, not a later Amsterdam reprint or Buache/Cook revision.
More about the map
On 15 April 1720, Guillaume Delisle - First Geographer to the King and member of the Royal Academy of Sciences - published what would become one of the most important world maps of the eighteenth century. Built on astronomical observation and surveyed coastlines rather than guesswork, it represented a new, more rigorous French school of cartography. A map of its time - and its limits
California appears correctly as a peninsula, helping retire the long-running "Island of California" myth. The North American coastline simply stops near Cap Blanc - everything beyond was still unknown to European mapmakers.
Australia, labelled Nouvelle Hollande, is fused with New Guinea along an unfinished coastline; New Zealand appears only in fragments, reflecting how recently Tasman's voyages had reached Europe.
East of Japan, phantom lands like Juan de Gama's Land still linger - holdovers from earlier, less rigorous mapping traditions Delisle hadn't yet disproven.
Charted by explorers
The map traces the actual routes of Magellan (1520), Le Maire and Schouten (1615), Tasman (1642), and Halley (1700) - anchoring its geography to real, documented voyages. Calculations are referenced to the Ferro meridian (El Hierro, Canary Islands), the prime meridian favoured by French cartographers of the era.
Provenance
This print is a reproduction of the original version dated 15 April 1720, identifiable by Delisle's Paris imprint and dated privilege medallion in the lower cartouche- distinct from the pirated Amsterdam editions of the 1730s, the 1755 Buache update (which added Antarctic theory and early Alaska outlines), and the 1770s Cook-updated reissues.
Unframed Prints
Printed on 230gsm acid-free, pH-neutral archival matte paper using premium pigment inks - rich colour saturation, sharp detail, made to last.
Sizes fit standard metric frames apart from our larger sizes - B0 and 2A0 - best to have those professionally framed by us.
Framed Prints
Australian-made frames, done the right way.
Solid timber from local sustainable sources, acid-free backing boards - no MDF.
Available in black, white, chocolate oak and natural oak timber.
Cast acrylic instead of glass - lighter, clearer, and UV-protective.
Arrives ready to hang.
Stretched Canvas
Printed on 380gsm Bauhaus bright white canvas - a cotton/polyester blend that holds tension beautifully and won't sag over time.
Stretched over timber stretcher bars from sustainably grown forests.
All finishing materials are museum grade and acid-free.
Arrives ready to hang.
Canvas Floating Frames
Our premium option.
Everything in Stretched Canvas above, then framed in your choice of timber with a 5mm gap between canvas and frame - giving the illusion that your image is floating within the frame.
A contemporary gallery look.
Available in black, white, chocolate oak and natural oak timber.
Arrives ready to hang.
Will the watermark appear on my print?
No. The watermark you see on product images online is there only to protect our restored and original artwork from being copied.
Unframed Print Sizes
The print size in the dropdown menu is the actual size of the paper print.
All prints include an off-white border on all 4 sides between the image and the edge of the paper - it looks fabulous and mimics a mat board without the expense.
If you prefer no border and would like the image to bleed to the edge of the paper, let us know in the Notes section at checkout.
| Size | Dimensions | Border Width |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 x 420mm | 15mm |
| A2 | 420 x 594mm | 21mm |
| B2 | 500 x 707mm | 25mm |
| A1 | 594 x 841mm | 30mm |
| B1 | 707 x 1000mm | 35mm |
| A0 | 841 x 1189mm | 42mm |
| B0 | 1000 x 1414mm | 50mm |
| 2A0 | 1189 x 1682mm | 59mm |
Framed Print Dimensions & Weights
Frames are 20mm wide and overlap the outer 5mm of the paper on all sides.
Frame depth from wall to front of print is 40mm.
| Size | Framed Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 327 x 450mm | 1.15kg |
| A2 | 450 x 624mm | 1.9kg |
| B2 | 530 x 737mm | 2.35kg |
| A1 | 624 x 871mm | 3.25kg |
| B1 | 737 x 1030mm | 5kg |
| A0 | 871 x 1219mm | 5.8kg |
| B0 | 1030 x 1444mm | 10.85kg |
| 2A0 | 1219 x 1712mm | 16kg |
Canvas Floating Frame Dimensions & Weights
Frames are 10mm wide and sit 5mm away from the canvas on all sides.
Frame depth from wall to front of print is 45mm.
| Size | Framed Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 327 x 450mm | TBC |
| A2 | 450 x 624mm | TBC |
| B2 | 530 x 737mm | TBC |
| A1 | 624 x 871mm | TBC |
| B1 | 737 x 1030mm | TBC |
| A0 | 871 x 1219mm | TBC |
| B0 | 1000 x 1414mm | TBC |
| 2A0 | 1219 x 1682mm | TBC |
Production Times
All prints are made to order.
Unframed prints: please allow 3-5 business days plus delivery.
Framed prints and canvas: please allow 10 business days plus delivery.
Production times may be longer during sales and the pre-Christmas period. If you need your order by a specific date, add a note in the Notes field at checkout and we will do everything we can to help.
Shipping
Free standard shipping Australia-wide.
Express Post is available for $10 - select at checkout. Please note Express Post is not available for framed prints A0 or larger.
Your order will be sent via Australia Post or courier and may be dispatched direct from our Australian printers. You will receive a tracking link when your order is dispatched - we ask that you keep an eye on delivery progress via your tracking link.
Prints are better in company.
A pair of prints side by side. Three across a hallway wall. A whole room brought together by a collection that tells a story. However you style them, ordering 2 or more prints saves you 15% across the board.
Mix and match freely - any size, any format, any print in our collection.
Use code PRINTBUNDLE at checkout and the discount is applied automatically.
Your walls will thank you.
