The second of Sanson's world maps, both double-hemisphere, preceded by his 'Mappe-Monde, ou Carte Generale Du Monde' (1651). Both maps were initially published separately, and then in his atlas, the first French atlas of the whole world, from 1658. In this map California appears as an island, and Sanson has changed "Nouvelle Albion" in the northwest part of North America to "Terra de Iesso". "Terre Australe", the great landmass in the southern hermisphere is very confused: Sanson includes a diagonal line across the map, a vestage of the chain of islands that were part of Gerard Mercator's concept of "Terra Australis"; New Guinea and Australia are similarly rudimentary outlines, although they are shown separate from "Terre Australe".

The mapmaker
Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667) is considered the father of French cartography in its golden age from the mid-seventeenth century to the mid-eighteenth. Over the course of his career he produced over 300 maps; they are known for their clean style and extensive research. Sanson was largely responsible for beginning the shift of cartographic production and excellence from Amsterdam to Paris in the later seventeenth century.

Sanson was born in Abbeville in Picardy. He made his first map at age twenty, a wall map of ancient Gaul. Upon moving to Paris, he gained the attention of Cardinal Richelieu, who made an introduction of Sanson to King Louis XIII. This led to Sanson's tutoring of the king and the granting of the title ingenieur-geographe du roi.

His success can be chalked up to his geographic and research skills, but also to his partnership with Pierre Mariette. Early in his career, Sanson worked primarily with the publisher Melchior Tavernier. Mariette purchased Tavernier's business in 1644. Sanson worked with Mariette until 1657, when the latter died. Mariette's son, also Pierre, helped to publish the 'Cartes générales de toutes les parties du monde' (1658), Sanson's atlas and the first French world atlas.