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Carte De L’Amerique Septentrionale, 1841
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Pierre Lapie’s 1841 map of North America is one of the earliest European depictions of the Republic of Texas, which had declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. France became the first European nation to officially recognize the Republic on September 25, 1839. This recognition was motivated by both economic interests—particularly in cotton trade—and lingering tensions with Mexico following the Pastry War (1838–1839). The Republic of Texas existed as an independent nation from 1836 to 1846. Its origins trace back to land grants offered by the Mexican government to American settlers like Stephen F. Austin. As more settlers arrived, tensions grew between them and Mexican authorities, eventually leading to the Texas Revolution. Following its victory, Texas operated as a sovereign state for a decade before being annexed by the United States—a decision that significantly escalated tensions with Mexico and contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846.
The borders of the Republic were a point of major contention. Texas claimed the Rio Grande as its southern and western boundary based on the Treaties of Velasco, while Mexico insisted the boundary lay further east, at the Nueces River. When Texas joined the United States, the U.S. honored the Rio Grande claim, thereby absorbing territory still claimed by Mexico, which further inflamed diplomatic conflict. Interestingly, the map also includes a notable cartographic error—an imagined strait running through Greenland. This feature, known as Frobisher’s Strait, dates back to the 16th-century expeditions of Sir Martin Frobisher, who mistakenly believed he had discovered a passage between the continents of America and Asia. Although his navigational error was quickly recognized, the strait continued to appear on maps of Greenland for centuries, as seen in this example. It also includes an inset of the Bering Strait area and the Aleutian Islands off Alaska’s coast. Pierre Lapie (1779–1850) was a renowned French cartographer and geographer to the King and the General Staff. His maps are known for their precision, artistry, and scientific rigor. This map, published in 1841, captures the geopolitical state of North America during a period of rapid territorial changes and exploration. This map was from the Atlas Universel de Géographie Ancienne et Moderne, engraved by Tardieu.
Map Maker: Pierre Lapie
Coloring: Original Outline Color
Year: 1841
In stock
