Bellin made maps for many travel accounts, including Histoire Générale des Voyages by A. F. Prévost, where the French edition of this map is, and Allgemeine Historie der Reisen zu Wasser und Lande where the German edition can be found. Bellin worked for the most part of his life making nautical charts under the auspices of the French naval authorities. It is therefore not surprising that the shape of Iceland on this map is of the type that was common on many sea charts.