NICOLAS SANSON

Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667) was a pioneering French cartographer and one of the founders of modern mapmaking. Often called the “father of French cartography,” Sanson transformed geography from a decorative art into a scientific discipline, emphasizing accuracy, measurement, and reliable sources. His detailed maps of Europe, the Americas, and the wider world were widely influential and helped shape geographical knowledge in the 17th century. Sanson’s work laid the foundations for later cartographers and established France as a leading center of cartographic innovation.

Keep a lookout for Sanson maps showing parts of England and Wales divided into counties.