1723 French Colonial Manuscript Map of New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River
The Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
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Carte particuliere du Fleuve St. Louis, dix lieües au dessus et au dessous de la Nouvelle Orleans ou sont marqué les habitations et les terrains concedés à Plusieurs Particuliers au Mississipy
By: Anonymous
Date of Original: 1723 (circa)
Original Size: 21 x 28 inches
This is a fine print reproduction of an early French colonial manuscript map of the lower Mississippi River and the fledgling settlement of New Orleans, centered on the area between the city and Lake Pontchartrain. Drawn with remarkable clarity and precision, the map illustrates the earliest pattern of land grants, plantations, and homesteads along the sinuous course of the river. Its elegant hand-coloring, detailed property labels, and carefully rendered natural landscape make it an exceptional visual record of New Orleans in its formative years.
The map depicts the “Fleuve St. Louis,” the French colonial name for the Mississippi River, as it curves sharply through a landscape of dense forests, cleared agricultural fields, and small clusters of structures denoting early colonial habitations. Individual parcels of land are meticulously labeled with the names of their concessionaires, showing long, narrow plots extending back from the riverfront in classic French colonial fashion. At the center sits “Nouvelle Orleans,” a small but clearly defined settlement, while above it lies the “Terrain à Monsieur de Bienville,” a direct reference to Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, founder of the city. To the north, Lake Pontchartrain and the “Entrée du Bayou” indicate the vital water route later known as Bayou St. John, a crucial link between the lake and the city. A decorative compass rose and soft washes of green and blue complete the map’s refined aesthetic.
This map belongs to the earliest period of French Louisiana, likely created in the first decades of the 1700s when New Orleans was newly founded and still developing its urban footprint. It captures the city at a moment when French colonial authorities were formalizing land distribution to settlers, soldiers, officials, and influential families, helping establish the economic and agricultural foundations of the colony. The long, narrow concession plots visible here reflect the French arpent system that shaped the region’s geography for centuries. The explicit mention of Bienville underscores his central role in choosing the site, managing settlement, and securing territorial claims for France.
As a visual record of the earliest organization of New Orleans and its surrounding lands, the map holds significant historical value, illustrating the birth of one of North America’s most important port cities and offering rare insight into the colonial landscape before the dramatic changes of later centuries.
Inventory #12345
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Our prints are fine art reproductions created from original antique maps and vintage posters in our collection, dating back to over 500 years. Each image is professionally scanned, in some cases digitally restored, and carefully printed to preserve the detail, tone, and character of the original work.
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