1778 Zatta Map of Lake Superior and Environs, w/ South Florida and Bahamas

Crossroads of the North American Fur Trade.

This is Antonio Zatta's 1778 map of Lake Superior and environs, issued at the height of the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). Although separately published, the sheet forms Plate I of Zatta's 12-sheet Italian edition of John Mitchell's seminal map of eastern North America. Zatta, however, includes additions not present on Mitchell's map, relating to the names of rivers, native peoples, and settlements.

A Closer Look

The map depicts Lake Superior and the surrounding lands, particularly to its north in today's Thunder Bay District of Ontario, Canada. Islands, rivers, and lakes (several fictitious or only poorly understood) are included, as well as settlements, forts, and mountains. Indigenous groups, including the Ottawa, 'Monsounesi' (likely Ojibwe), and Cree (which comes from 'Kristineaux' or 'Christinaux', a term given to the group by French fur traders, based on an Ojibwe term), are referenced. Though the scale and general appearance are maintained from Mitchell's map, Zatta adds many features, including the Florida inset at the top-left, the salt pans (saline) in the vicinity of future Duluth, and many coastal features along the edge of Lake Superior. As the geography of this area was only partly understood by European fur traders, both Mitchell and Zatta include several fictitious features, and even some that do exist are not particularly accurate, such as Isle Royale. The Florida inset likewise includes some amusing errors, including mountains in the Everglades!

Historical Context

In the 1770s, the Lake Superior region was a crucible of the North American fur trade, serving as a vital crossroads for the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Following the British victory in the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763), the area transitioned from French to British influence. However, the cultural landscape remained a complex blend of Indigenous, French-Canadian, and British interests. Grand Portage, located on the western shore (near 'Lago Lungo' here), emerged as the premier inland depot where traders met to exchange pelts for European goods. This era was defined by the symbiotic yet often tense relationship between European traders and the Ojibwe people, who controlled the land and provided the geographic knowledge and resources that enabled the trade to thrive. While the Revolutionary War raged elsewhere, the Lake Superior basin remained largely a British stronghold, administered from distant administrative centers such as Michilimackinac (Mackinaw). The impending Treaty of Paris in 1783 would eventually slice through the lake, but in the 1770s it remained a vast, rugged wilderness where the rhythms of the seasons and the demands of the fur trade dictated the flow of everyday life.

Publication History and Census

This map was published separately in Zatta's 1779-84 Atlante Novissimo, but can also be considered a component of the 12-map Zatta Italian edition of John Mitchell's map of North America, considered the most comprehensive Colonial Era map of eastern North America. Both the Zatta and the Mitchell are roughly on the same scale, though the Zatta has considerably more annotations and additional insets. Well-represented institutionally, but scarce to the market as a separate map.

Cartographers

Antonio Zatta (1722 - February 16, 1804) was a Venetian printer and publisher whose illustrated books and atlases made him a leading figure in late 18th-century Italian publishing. Born in Venice into a printing family active since 1656, he attempted to relocate to Rovereto in 1752, but Venetian authorities blocked the move. The merchant Amedeo Svajer financed his early ventures. His connections with the Jesuits, including publications defending the order under false imprints (1760 - 1761), attracted controversy, although these ties weakened during the 1760s. Geography became a major undertaking: he published Anton Friedrich Büsching's Nuova geografia in 34 volumes (1773 - 1782), followed by the four-volume Atlante novissimo, illustrato ed accresciuto (1779 - 1785), comprising approximately 240 maps. Portions appeared separately, notably Le colonie unite dell'America settentr.le, an Italian adaptation of John Mitchell's 1755 map. His geographical publications also included Cook's voyages (1794 - 1795) and the map-illustrated political periodical Prospetto degli affari attuali dell'Europa (1788 - 1801). Beyond cartography, he published literature, medicine, and Buffon's natural history (1782 - 1791), cultivating collaborations with leading Venetian illustrators and engravers. His sons Giacomo and Giovanni joined the business in 1783; the printing house closed shortly after his death.   Further Details...

John Mitchell (April 13, 1711 – February 29, 1768) was and British-American mapmaker of great significance. He is known for one and only one map, the 'Mitchell Map', considered the most important map in 18th century American history. Mitchell was born in Lancaster County, Virginia, the son of a prosperous planter and merchant. Like many of his social peers, he was educated in Europe, at Scotland at Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine. Mitchell practiced medicine in Virginia for a short time prior to the French and Indian War. He was elected to the original American Philosophical Society in 1744. In 1745 Mitchell argued that a series of epidemics occurring in Virginia were due to unsanitary troop ships from Britain - at the time a revolutionary idea. He relocated to London in 1746 - presumably for the agreeable climate. Mitchell never practiced medicine in London, but was known to be an avid botanist, and was considered an exotic plant expert in London society circles. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society in November 1748, his candidature citation describing him as

A Gentleman of great merit and Learning, who Some time Since communicated to the Royal Society a very curious dissertation concerning the Colour of the skin in Negroes, and who from his long residence in Virginea, and from his great application to the Study of Natural history, especially Botany, is very well acquainted with the vegetable productions of North America, being desirous of being admitted a fellow of the Royal Society, is recommended by us from our personal knowledge of him as highly deserving the Honour he desires, as we believe he will be (if chosen) a usefull and valuable member of our Body.

As an educated American adopted into British high society, Mitchell became the de facto expert on all matters North American. In 1749, during a time of ever-increasing political tensions between British and French interests in America, Lord Halifax contracted Mitchell to produce a large and detailed map of British and French dominions in America. While embracing the most advanced geographical data, Mitchell also advocated pro-British interpretation of political boundaries. The resulting map was thus geographically unimpeachable and reframed the cartographic perspective from French to British terms. The map proved significant and was used in most subsequent treaties. Michell issued 3 editions in his lifetime. He died in London in 1768.   Further Details...

Source

Zatta, A., Atlante novissimo, illustrato ed accresciuto sulle osservazioni, e scoperte fatte dai piu celebri e piu recenti geografi, (Venice: Presso Antonio Zatta) 1779 - 1784.    

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original centerfold. Soiling to bottom margin and border.

References

Rumsey 5007.003.