British expedition map of the North American continent, first quarter of the 19th century.

Map of the British expedition across the North American continent, 19th century.
"Route of the Expedition A.D. 1825 from Fort William to the Saskatchewan River".
Engraved on plate by J. & C. Walker.
It presents folds, slight humidity stains and two small restorations.
Measurements: 43 x 45 cm.

Important English cartographic document, testimony of the British expeditions of reconnaissance of the interior of North America in the first quarter of the XIX century. The route depicted starts from Fort William, on the shores of Lake Superior (Ontario), one of the great centers of the North West Company and later of the Hudson's Bay Company. From there, the route crosses rivers and lakes that enter the vast basin of the Saskatchewan, a river axis that connects the prairies with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The map was made in 1825 by Lieutenant George Back and Mr. E. N. Kendall, with astronomical observations by John Franklin, as part of Franklin's second expedition to the Arctic. It constitutes an exceptional testimony of the British effort to open routes to the north and west of the continent, at the same time the scene of intense contacts with the indigenous nations that inhabited those territories.

Beyond its scientific and geographical value, this cartography reflects a key moment of exploration and expansion, when the explorers' trails were at the same time paths of discovery, trade routes and a prelude to profound changes in the region.