By 1755, the date of this important map, the territorial dispute between Britain and France over the colonies in America had dissolved into open military conflict. This map, however, was part of a larger propaganda campaign by the British. The map, based on John Mitchell’s monumental map of the same year, graphically depicts their claims to the region.

According to the maker, “The Society of Anti-Gallicans,” all the coloured areas on the map rightfully belong to the British; i.e. the vast majority of the region. In subsequent issues of the map, text below Newfoundland explains that “the French Possessions and Encroachments are without any colour” — essentially relegating the French to a small territory along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Tadoussac, along with the north shore of Newfoundland and Prince Edward and Cape Breton, The map asserts the British claim to America as far west as the Mississippi, with a boundary delineated on the map with a purple line following the length of the river. Text on later issues of the map explain that the “purple line represents the Western Boundary of the hereditary & Conquer’s Country of our Indian Friends & Allies, which has been ceded and confirm’d to us by several Treaties and Deeds of Sale.” The four insets comprising the left side panel are printed from a separate plate; as are the two insets on the right side above the larger inset of the Atlantic.

The Society or Order of Anti-Gallicans was organized in response to the renewed hostilities with France. Officially its aims were patriotic, though they were more likely economic in nature and concerned with slowing or preventing the flow of French goods into England. Established by about the end of 1751, the Order appointed distinguished presidents, including Lord Carpenter and Sir Edward Vernon, held regular meetings, outfitted at least one privateer charged with harrying the French at sea, published patriotic songs, anti-French prints, at least one novel (The Anti-Gallican, or the
History and Adventures of Sir Henry Cobham London: 1757) and the present map.

This copy is a rare example of the first issue of the map, without the explanatory text below Newfoundland or to the left of the inset of the Atlantic.