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"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
Lt. Col. Thomas James. "Plan of the Attack on Fort Sulivan (sic), near Charles Town in South Carolina, by a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships, on the 28th of June 1776, with the Disposition of the King's Land Forces, and the Encampments and Entrenchments of the Rebels from the Drawings made on the Spot." London: William Faden, 10 August 1776. Early state. 10 3/4 x 14 1/2 (neat lines) plus full margins. Engraving by W. Faden. A few points of color. Excellent condition. Nebenzahl: 64; Stevens & Tree, 14c with the large bottom margin that proves that a letter press addition was never a part of it.
One of William Faden's rare and important series of Revolutionary War battle maps. During the Revolution, the British public, government and military had a great desire for accurate maps of the events from across the Atlantic. The most important publisher of such maps was William Faden, who had access to many of the original drawings sent by soldiers and surveyors from the Americas. These provided then, and provide now, the most accurate and contemporary look at the battles, events and locations of War. This is the rare first state of Faden's map showing the British attack on Fort Sulivan [sic] at the entrance to Charleston Harbor (later renamed Fort Moultrie).
Clinton's army was landed unopposed on Long Island, to the north of Sullivan's, as Clinton's maps showed an easy ford to the mainland. This was in error, and thus Clinton's troops became stranded spectators to the action that followed. Parker moved his fleet to bombard the fort, which was under the command of Colonel William Moultrie. The back of the fort was incomplete, but the palisade wall along the ocean front, made of palmetto logs, was able to withstand the fire, while the return cannonade caused much destruction in the British fleet. Finally, Parker was forced to withdraw, and Clinton's expedition ended in failure. This map shows the position of the British troops on Long Island, Fort Sullivan and the British fleet during the bombardment. An inset plan of the fort is included in the top left. This early of the map was printed prior to the addition of soundings and a second pontoon bridge from Sullivan's Island to the "Rebels Camp." $6,500
Claude Joseph Sauthier. "A Topographical Map of the Northn. Part of New York Island..." London: William Faden, March 1, 1777. First state. 18 1/2 x 10 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition. Nebenzahl: 116.
One of William Faden's rare and important series of Revolutionary War battle maps. During the Revolution, the British public, government and military had a great desire for accurate maps of the events from across the Atlantic. The most important publisher of such maps was William Faden, who had access to many of the original drawings sent by soldiers and surveyors from the Americas. These provided then, and provide now, the most accurate and contemporary look at the battles, events and locations of War. This map shows the events that took place on Manhattan Island in November 1776. It is one of the few maps of the period that show the important events related to the British capture of New York. After leaving Boston, the British headed for New York City, defending by George Washington and the main Continental Army. In August 1776, the British landed and captured Long Island, soon chasing the American army from the southern part of Manhattan. General Howe marched north, chasing Washington, and fought him at the battle of White Plains in October. Washington had left a detachment of troops at Fort Washington, at the northern end of Manhattan, which Howe turned his attention to in November. The British forced the Americans to surrender, capturing almost three thousand men. The Americans also lost precious supplies and weapons, putting the American army in grave peril.
The map shows the events of the British attack, with Sauthier indicating the various stages with a lettered key. The map shows from "Haerlem" in the south to the tip of Manhattan, giving excellent information on the rivers and topography. Also shown are the various positions of the British and Americans, as well as forts in northern Manhattan and on the west bank of the Hudson River. This map would have been read with great interest by officials, officers, and the public in London, raising their spirits in hopes that the conflict in American would soon be over after such a devastating loss by the rebels. However, Washington's great asset of being an unexcelled leader of men held the Colonial army together despite this disaster, continuing his fight until the Americans finally won nearly five years later in Yorktown. $6,800
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
Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres. "A Chart of Delaware River from Bombay Hook to Ridley Creek, with soundings &c. taken by Lt. Knight of the Navy . . ." with a second panel entitled "A Plan of Delawar [sic] River from Chester to Philadelphia. Shewing the Situation of His Majesty's Ships &c on the 15th. Novr. 1777 surveyed and sounded by Lieutenant John Hunter of the Navy." Prepared for The Atlantic Neptune. London: Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 1 June 1779. Etching. 30 1/4 x 21 7/8. Former folds reinforced and fill in on 4 1/2" at bottom, center. Nebenzahl, 136.
After the French & Indian War, the job of surveying and mapping the American coastline fell upon J.F.W. DesBarres, who had commanded the mapping of the coasts of present-day eastern Canada. The resulting atlas, The Atlantic Neptune, was called by A.P. Loring, "the first great marine atlas of the eastern seaboard." Loring quotes Obadiah Rich who called it, "the most splendid collection of charts, plans and views ever published." This is an excellent example of the maps from this important atlas.
It is a chart 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. In the inset map showing from Chester to Philadelphia shows the situation of the British ships off Philadelphia in mid-November, 1777. $4,750
William Faden after John Montresor and Lt. Page. "Plan of the Action at Bunkers Hill, on the 17th. of June 1775. Between His Majesty's Troops, Under the Command of General Howe, and the American Forces." London: J. Murray & al., 1793-4. Line engraving. 21 x 18 (full sheet).
This dramatic battle plan showing the British attempt to clear the hills above Boston of the American rebel forces was first printed by William Faden in 1784 after the drawings of John Montresor and a Lieutenant Page who was aide-de-camp to General Howe during the battle. The map confuses Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill, and that caused the misnomer for the battle which last to this day; otherwise, it is a very accurate map. The well executed plan called for amphibious landings and encircling the American forts-all shown with much detail about ships and troop movements on a map with excellent topographical accuracy. This copy of the map is a second printing in which Lt. Page's name is deleted and the words "rebel forces" is replaced by the words "American Forces." Most copies of the map have a printed small flap to show two phases of the battle, but this copy shows the battlefield in one glance. This copy of the map was designed for Charles Stedman's The History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War which Sabin considers "the best contemporary account of the Revolution written from the British side." He was a loyalist from Philadelphia who left America but continued his interest after that time. Ref: Sabin 91057. See also Nebenzahl, Bibliography of Printed Battle Plans..., 29. $1,800
Maps prepared for John Marshall's Life of George Washington.
John Marshall's Life of George Washington was published in French, Dutch, and German as well as English in the early nineteenth century. Long the standard biography, a separately issued atlas of ten maps provided the best coverage of the campaigns of the American Revolution then being issued.
This map documents the route of Cornwallis' campaign from Savannah, to Charleston, then up to the interior of the Carolinas, and ending in Yorktown, Virginia. A fine, crisp depiction of that campaign. $400
This map documents the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Princeton and Monmouth, thus showing from Elk Head, Maryland at the lower left corner to Sandy Hook, New Jersey in upper right. Taking, holding, and leaving Philadelphia put great strain on the British armies, and this fine, crisp map depicts those campaigns. The ultimate source for this map was the work of John Hills who accompanied the British army as a cartographer and after hostilities moved to Philadelphia. NA
"Map of Hudson's River, with the adjacent Country." From Gentleman's Magazine. London: David Henry & Francis Newbery, January, 1778. 11 5/8 x 8 3/8. Engraving. With manuscript underlining of names. Otherwise, very good condition.
This map, issued at the beginning of 1778, shows the region of most of the activity in the war during 1777. The area shown extends as far south as Philadelphia, to which Howe had moved in 1777, and as far north as Fort Ticonderoga, where Burgoyne had made a deceptively promising start to his great campaign down the Hudson from Canada. The Mohawk River is shown, down which a British support wing had attempted and failed to link up with Burgoyne. Of particular note is the insertion of a caption stating "Scene of Action on the Surrender," at Saratoga where Burgoyne's campaign came to its disastrous end. The map shows good information of towns, rivers, lakes, and other such features. $250
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