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Jacques N. Bellin. "Karte von Carolina und Georgien." From Allgemeine Historie Der Reisen Zu Wasser Und Zu Land…
Leipzig: 1758. 7 1/4 x 10. Engraving. Very good condition.
Another map by Bellin, this from a German edition of Prevost's Voyages. The map shows the region from Albemarle Bay to Port Royal, showing topography, rivers, settlements and the nascent road system. A major road runs along the coast, but several branches go inland, including two that lead to Cherokee villages in the mountains to the west. The information is very good, especially of the coast and rivers, which is not surprising given Bellin's background. $450
Nicolas Bellin. "Karte von den Seen in Canada." From Allgemeine Historie Der Reisen Zu Wasser Und Zu Land….
Leipzig: Arkstee & Merkus, 1758. 7 1/2 x 11 1/4. Engraving. Very good condition.
Another map from the German edition of Prevost's Voyages, this one of particular interest as it is an examples of Bellin's influential map of the Great Lakes, one of his most important, fascinating and erroneous. The errors include a south-easterly slanted Lake Michigan, but more importantly Bellin is notorious for the introduction of two non-existent islands in Lake Superior. These islands were "Isle Pontchartrain" and "Isle Philippeaux," the latter of which is shown almost as big as the near-by (real) Isle Royale. These mythical islands were quickly copied by other cartographers and appeared on most maps showing the Great Lakes for the next century. These islands were named in honor of Jean Frederic Phelippeaux, Comte de Maurepas, Minister of the French Marine from 1723 to 1749 and patron to Charlevoix, and whose patron saint was Anne. Isle Ponchartrain was named for his father, Jerome Phellipeaux, Comte de Ponchartrain, a former minister. It is also possible that Ste. Anne was named after Louis Charley Saint-Ange, who helped to finance Le Ronde's activities. Bellin has often been criticized for adding these non-existent islands for the purpose of flattering his superior. However, recent research indicates that the islands were derived from the first-hand reports of Louis Denys de la Ronde, a fur trapper whose base was located on Lake Superior. It seems that la Ronde derived his belief in these islands from Indian reports that he misinterpreted. However, whatever their origin, the mythical islands first shown by Bellin continued to appear on maps for about 100 years. Isle Philippeaux was even used as a landmark in the 1783 Treaty of Paris that established the border between the British domains and the United States. This is a nice example of Bellin's notorious depiction. $750
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. Original outline hand color. Professionally backed with rice paper for stability; losses in margins at corners and top center replaced with toned rice paper. One repaired tear in lower center; else, image clean and strong. 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. $3,400
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. QW ON APPROVAL
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
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. $4,250
Rigobert Bonne. "Le Nouveau Mexique." From Atlas de toutes les parties connues du Globe Terrestre. Paris, 1780. Ca. 8 x 12 1/2. Engraving. With light off-setting. Otherwise, very good condition.
Rigobert Bonne 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. In those areas that had been French in the eighteenth century, Boone had access to many reports and first-hand mappings of the interior parts, especially along the rivers adn lakes. Thus, these maps show regions in North America, depicting the best understanding of the continent had by the French near the end of the American Revolution.
This map of the southern part of North America shows as far north as Santa Fe and to just below Guadalajara, also including the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. The southern coast of the United States in included to western Florida, and the river systems are included inland, especially for present-day Texas. $325
Go to page three of 18th century American regional maps
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