----------------------------Original message---------------------------- In reply to Larry Cruse's request for information about Nicolas de Fer: The best text I have seen is by Mireille Pastoureau, in her volume _Les Atlas francais, XVIe-XVIIe siecles_ (Paris: BN, 1984). Chapter 13 deals with de Fer's atlases; pages 167-70 include a biography and an overview of his work. _The Map Collector_ (No. 29, Dec. 1984, pp. 22-26) published an article titled "The Original Beaver Map -- De Fer's 1698 Wall Map of America" by some obscure author; looking for anything about de Fer and gardens in it might have you barking up the wrong tree. -- Ed Dahl Early Cartography Specialist Tel.: (613) 995-1452 National Archives of Canada Fax: (613) 995-6575 Ottawa K1A 0N3 CANADA Internet: [log in to unmask]