A rare French map depicting the important port and harbour of Mahon, Minorca, part of the Balearic Islands. It is one of the largest natural harbours in the world and as such was an important staging post for the British Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea during the numerous conflicts of the eighteenth century. Britain first gained control of Minorca in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1756 it was captured by the French during the Seven Years War and as part of the Treaty ending the conflict it was returned to British control. In 1782 a joint French and Spanish expedition under the command of Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon took control of the island and its stronghold of St. Philip’s Castle. This victory for the French is beautifully illustrated on this sheet. Insets below the map show the relative locations of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Balearic Islands. Mapforum.com, vol. 8, ‘Checklist of Charts of Mahon Harbour’ no. 77.