FIRST EDITION. An impressive wall map here in 4 unjoined sheets and large margins. RARE in these untouched, full sheets. Recorded examples are usually offered as folding case maps, including large vignettes of Niagara Falls and a plan of Washington, D.C.
Tardieu's map is a direct copy of Arrowsmith's "Map of the United States" except for certain parts (mentioned by Tardieu in his "Note" above the title) that Tardieu has altered and improved based on other sources. The map shows the eastern seaboard and extends westward as far as where the Missouri River crosses 97o lat.
Showing the United States and Canada.

Using Arrowsmith's map as a template, Tardieu creates a new map that reflects this Paris engraver's finer engraving skills. Over the next 18 years, Tardieu's regularly updated and improved his map, often in advance of improvements by Arrowsmith, who also periodically updated his 4-sheet map for the next several decades.

Adorned with a cartouche highlighting Niagara Falls, a new American icon, it defines the nation’s boundaries and depicts the states of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
An inset showcases Pierre L’Enfant’s plan for the nation’s capital in Washington, DC. The plan, inspired by Baroque city designs, features broad diagonal avenues imposed on a grid street system, reflecting the city’s proposal to function as a ceremonial seat of government.
Scale [ca. 1:1,860,000].

Primarily based on the work of Aaron Arrowsmith, who first published his monumental map of North America in 1796, the current map shows the United States at a time of great transition, just before the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory (1803) and before the extent of the western discoveries of Lewis and Clark during their exploring expedition of 1804, 1805, 1806, and those of Zebulon Pike of 1806 and 1807.

Remarkably fine engraving, as is characteristic of Tardieu's maps.

The map is known in 6 states:
State 1: 1802 (dated)
State 2: 1808 (adding Michigan Territory, Ohio, Vermont, Kentucky & Tennessee).
State 3: 1812 (dated) Mississippi Territory, Indiana Territory, West Florida is shown, Louisiana does not yet appear as a state and there is a massive area called Indiana below Lake Michigan, with an unnamed Territory to the west.
State 4: (circa 1816), adds the Illinois Territory and a massive Northwest Territory.
State 5: (circa 1818), Alabama Territory appears for the first time, the roads in Illinois Territory and Indiana Territory have been changed and East Florida and West Florida are no longer named. State 6: 1820. Adds a set of half-sheets at the bottom of the map, extending the map's coverage to include all of Florida.

Please note that the main illustration is a compilation. The four sheets are in their original unjoined state with large margins. Very rare in this condition.

Reference: Karrow I:1385; see Phillips Maps 876 & 873.