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From about 1650 to 1750, the French dominated the cartographic world, with their fine, scientifically based maps. Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-72), Hydrographer to the King of France, was one of the best French cartographers of the later period. His specialty were marine and coastal maps and his famous Petit Atlas Maritime contained small but detailed charts of coasts and coastal cities around the world, including a series of fascinating American maps.
Lewis Evans. "A General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America..." London: Carrington Bowles, January 1, 1771. 19 3/8 x 25 1/2. Engraving. Some hand color. Folded into squares and some wear along folds. Trimmed to neat line. Professionally conserved. Overall good appearance and condition. Stevens & Tree: 29(c).
In 1755, cartographer Lewis Evans published an important map of the middle colonies, which was especially important for its delineation of the trans-Appalachian region and for its inset of what was to become the Northwest Territory. These depictions were based by Evans on his own surveys and on first hand reports of explorations by Gist and Walker. Based on reliable, first hand information and compiled with great care, the map appeared in numerous editions to as late as 1816; this issue of 1771 is one of the rarer ones issued prior to the American Revolution.
Evans' map was one of the first to show accurate information in the trans-Appalachian region, the territory fought over during the French and Indian Wars that were contemporary with Evans' map. This map was of such detail and information that it became an invaluable resource during the wars, especially for west of the Appalachians. This map is also important in the history of the Ohio Valley in recognizing many places that were in their nascent stages of settlement. It was this map that first noted oil in Pennsylvania and coal in Ohio, as well as denoting important passages through the Appalachians. For the area of Illinois and Michigan, Evans used such sources as Indian scouts, traders, and other information previously unavailable. This map indicates Indian settlements along with the ancient and current seats of the Indian tribes. The map provided the first accurate details of the tributaries of the Ohio river, including the degree in which they were passable. An inset map shows the old Northwest Territory; the Indian tribes there are described by their alliance to either the English or the French. One of the most influential maps of the eighteenth century, Evans' map opened the way to the west and is thus a very important document of American settlement and expansion. $2,400
Rigobert Bonne. "Les États Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale, Partie Orientale." Paris, ca. 1770s. 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 plus full margins. No. 117 from an atlas. Engraving by André. Very good condition.
Rigobert Bonne (1727-95) was the Royal Hydrographer of France, so his primary interest was in marine charts. However, with his Royal connections and access to the cartographic documents in Paris, Bonne was able to compile maps containing some of the most up-to-date information of his time. This map is a good example of his work, including precisely drawn coastal profiles and details, and considerable inland information on orography, rivers, towns, and political boundaries. $250
"A New and Accurate Map of the Present Seat of War in North America, from a late Survey." From Universal Magazine. London, October 1775. 11 1/4 x 14 3/4 (neat lines). Engraving. Generous margins, except at hinge as issued. Some splits at former folds expertly repaired. Very good condition. With three pages of original text from the magazine.
Beginning in 1731, monthly news magazines made their appearance in Britain. These magazines contained poetry, prose, and articles on events, fashions, personalities, and other items of the day that might be of interest to the English gentleman. One of their most popular, and historically important, features was the inclusion of prints and maps to accompany their articles. The Universal Magazine, founded in 1747, issued a series of maps of the American "colonies" during the Revolution, including this excellent map of the New England region showing the "Seat of War" in the War of Independence in 1777.
This detailed map of Massachusetts labels the colony "Province of Massachusetts Bay", and the text gives a vivid description of the various towns, islands, counties and bays. The text also describes the uprising of the populace and the burning of Charlestown without mentioning Bunkers Hill where the major battle had taken place four months earlier. A lack of political commentary was probably a safe approach, but the clear description of Massachusetts was enlightening reportage. DHC OUT ON APPROVAL
Samuel Holland. "The Provinces of New York, and New Jersey; with part of Pensilvania, and the Governments of Trois Rivieres and Montreal." London: R. Sayer & T. Jefferys, 1775. Separately issued "saddle bag" map: dissected into 16 sections, newly backed onto buckram and folded into modern, hand-made carry case. 54 x 21 1/4. Original outline hand color. Paper age toned and with a few chips and stains. Overall, very good condition. Stevens & Tree, 44b.
An unusual, elongated map by Capt. Samuel Holland, the first Surveyor General for the Northern District of British North America. It shows from the entrance of the Delaware Bay to Quebec, with special emphasis on eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and both sides of the Hudson River, up Lake Champlain and then up the Richelieu River to the Saint Lawrance. Holland was a Dutch military engineer in the British army and a fine draftsman; he was appointed by the King as the first Surveyor General for the northern region. It contains impressive detail of towns, roads, rivers and mountains. In the lower right corner is an especially fine title cartouche depicting a scene of the Hudson River at the `Topan Sea' (present-day Tapanzee). This view was taken from Thomas Pownall's print published in the Scenographia Americana, with the cliff face used for the title information. This is a excellent example of an important American map. $5,200
Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson. "A Map of the most Inhabited Part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland...Drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1775." London: Sayer & Jefferys, 1775. Four sheets joined, 30 3/4 x 48 1/2. Engraving. Original hand color. Wall map that has been removed from mounting. Paper toned. Some old tears and punctures; all expertly conserved. Overall appearance is very good.
One of the most famous of American maps, and the finest eighteenth century map of Virginia and Maryland. The map was commissioned by the English Lords of Trade as part of the comprehensive mapping of the British colonies undertaken in the middle of the eighteenth century. The surveyors were Peter Jefferson, Thomas' father, and Joshua Fry, a mathematician at the College of William and Mary and Thomas Jefferson's tutor, who had already taken a number of important surveying commissions in Virginia. The map was based on their own surveys of the interior together with other first-hand information. Fry and Jefferson finished their map in 1751 and then revised it a few years later to incorporate information from John Dalrymple and others concerning the western part of the colony. The resulting map was by the far the best of Virginia to date and the first to accurately map beyond the Chesapeake Bay region and into the Appalachian mountains. This map was thus a watershed in the history of the mapping of Virginia and remained the prototype for the region for the second half of the century. Not only was it the first map to show the western parts of the colony, but it was the first to depict the road system in the colony. In the lower right is a lovely title cartouche showing a harbor scene on the Chesapeake and a tobacco warehouse, a vignette that has earned its own place in American iconography.
Though dated in the map 1751--the date the manuscript was finished--the first issue of the map was probably published about 1753 and was titled "A Map of the Inhabited part of Virginia." It is exceedingly rare, with only a few complete copies known to exist. It was shortly after this issue that Fry and Jefferson updated the depiction of the western parts of the map, making a number of changes to produce what they called the "second edition" of 1755. This second edition was actually the fourth state, with two other intermediary states showing different stages in the modification of the geographic rendering on the map, as well as the change of the title to now read "A Map of the most Inhabited part of Virginia" (emphasis added). No more geographic changes were made, but the map went through four more editions with the date changed to 1768, 1775, 1782, and finally 1794. The issue of 1775, of which this is a good example, was published for Thomas Jefferys' important America Atlas, which contained examples of the many great maps of the American colonies that resulted from the mid-century mapping undertaken by the British. $35,000
De Sartine. "Carte Réduite Des Côtes Orientales De L'Amérique Septentrionale Contenant Partie du Nouveau Jersey, la Pensylvanie, le Mary-land, la Virginie, la Caroline Septentrionale, la Caroline Méridionale et la Georgie." Paris: Depot de la Marine, 1778. Engraving. 23 x 34 (full sheet). Full margins. Two small repairs in top margin touching into top neatline. Else fine condition.
This map was issued at the time of the American Revolution, into which the French were then entangled. It was prepared for the very rare French atlas Neptune America-Septentrional and was issued both in that atlas and as a separate map for "Prix Trois Livres." The map would have been in use by the French navy and merchant marine and it would have been used with great effect by the combatants. The map extends from the Delaware Bay to the St. John River in Florida, a main area of concern for the French navy, as the British military action late in the war was focused on this area. Detail of the coast is very precise and detailed, with soundings, islands, bays, towns, and so forth all indicated. Somewhat surprising for a sea chart, the map has superb detail inland as far as the Appalachian Range. Roads, plantations, chapels, forts, fords, topography, rivers, and much else is shown with exquisite exactness. This was probably because the charts were intended to be useable not just by the naval forces, but also by French troops who might be landed in the conflict.
Of note is the indication of "York" on the York River, also known as Yorktown, which soon after this map was issued was the scene of the French naval blockade which was the immediate cause of the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the Revolution. It was not unlikely on another copy of this chart that the French Admiral De Grasse consulted as he planned his operations against the British fleet in North America. To examine and hold such a historical document, one which gives us a privileged, contemporary view of the American Revolution is a thrill indeed. $3,200
Joshua Fisher. "Carte de la Baye et Riviere de Delaware." And "Par Ordre de M. de Sartine." Paris: Depot de la Marine, 1778. 23 x 16 1/2 (neat lines). Engraving. Full margins on three sides, but with right margin expertly replaced. Hand color. Snyder: 265f. Delicate French engraving accommodates the map with instructions for mariners.
The first chart of the Delaware Bay was made in 1756 by Joshua Fisher, a former hatter from Lewes. It showed the lower part of the bay and was intended to be used as a navigational aid for ships sailing toward Philadelphia. In 1775, Fisher produced an expanded chart that showed the bay and the Delaware River to just beyond Philadelphia. This was the most important map of the bay and river in the eighteenth century, and it went through many different versions, of which this is the second French version. The French army and navy would have used this map during the American Revolution. The map is oriented to the north so that Philadelphia lies at the top, and Cape May at the right and "Hinlopen" at the bottom margin. $1,100
Go to other maps of the American Revolution
Antonio Zatta. "Il Paese De Selvaggi Outagamiani, Mascoutensi, Illinesi, e parte delle VI Nazioni." Venice: A. Zatta, 1778. 12 1/2 x 16 3/4. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
Part IV from Zatta's twelve sheet map of North America based upon Mitchell's multi-sheet map from the mid-eighteenth century. Mitchell's map was a seminal document in the history of the mapping of North America, and thus there was a great demand for its information. Zatta issued his version in order to help meet that demand, and like Mitchell's original, Zatta's map is filled with current, detailed, and fascinating cartography. This sheet is one of the most interesting, being one of the first to focus just on the wilderness area to the west and southwest of Lake Michigan. This is one of the earliest regional maps to show much detail of any part of the far interior of North America, especially of the upper mid-West. The data was received from trappers, settlers, explorers, and soldiers who mostly traveled by water, and thus it is that the most accurate and detailed information is of lakes and rivers, and of the areas along their banks and shores. Zatta includes details of the locations of Indian tribes, settlements, trade routes, and frontier forts. This is a wonderful, close-up look at the region at the beginning of the American Revolution. $750
Other sheets from Zatta's series of American maps:
This section shows the trans-Appalachian region in Kentucky, Tennessee and across the Mississippi. Also shown are southern Ohio and Indiana. Much information is given of the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers as well as details about mines and about English, French and Indian settlements in the area. $600
This sheet shows the east coast from Cape Fear to Saint Augustine, giving excellent detail mostly along the coast, but as far inland as Augusta. Detail includes rivers, roads, towns, forts and Indian settlements. $500
The Atlantic Nepture is one of the most important atlases of North America ever published, produced by J.F.W. DesBarres to provide a careful charting of the waters along the British colonies in North America. This is a chart from that atlas, of the Delaware River to as far as Philadelphia in two panels. As stated on the chart, it was "Composed and Published for the use of Pilotage by J.F. W. DesBarres Esqr," so the focus of detail is on the nature of the river itself. The coastline, mouths of creeks, shoals and sand bars, and soundings are shown with careful precision, and rhumb lines are used to help with navigation of a ship up this relatively narrow river. Inland information is sparse because it is limited to that which was visible sight from navigable waters. An occasional higher elevation is shown and a basic town plans for New Castle, Chester, and Philadelphia are present. Conventional symbols for swamps and waterways are shown for as much as a few miles inland in places. It is one of the rarest and finest charts of the Delaware from any period. $4,750
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