Kaufman, Kevin, ed., The Mapping of the Great Lakes in the Seventeenth Century: Twenty-two Maps from the George S. & Nancy B. Parker Collection: A Portfolio with an Introduction and Commentary by Kevin Kaufman.  Providence: The John Carter Brown Library, 1989. 11½ x 8 inches; paper; xxii, 85 pp; 13 illus.  With a portfolio of 22 maps on 28 sheets measuring 21 x 28 inches in a cloth drop-spine box. ISBN: 0-916617-34-3. (JCBL Books, Box 1894, Providence, RI 02912;  $165.00)

While the definitive history of Great Lakes cartography is yet to be written, this work makes a fine contribution to the subject.  Karpinski (1931) remains the standard, but needs updating.  Kaufman begins with a handy chronology of maps and events from Cartier to De L'Isle.  The excellent twenty-page introduction covers European exploration of the region, and discusses how information was gathered and incorporated into maps.

Following are bibliographic descriptions of the twenty-two maps in the portfolio with a brief essay on each which notes sources and historical background.  The collection includes a number of influential maps such as those by Sanson, Coronelli and Hennepin.  It is interesting to be able to compare no less than seven different maps by Hennepin, as there often is confusion regarding maps from the many later editions of his books.

The toponymic index and the index of tribal lands will be invaluable.  There also is a listing of names for the Great Lakes as they appear on each of the maps.  Finally, there is an appendix of fourteen supplementary maps, most either very rare or unique.

The accompanying portfolio of black-and-white facsimiles provides clear, full size  images which are printed on heavy paper.  This is an excellent work and highly recommended.

Jon K. Rosenthal, 1994