1795 The American atlas | A geographical description of the whole continent of America
By: Thomas Jefferys
Date: 1795 (Published) London
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Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to the Prince of Wales and later George III, had unequaled access to the most recent surveys and geographic reports of America’s colonies. He was known for some of the most important 18th century maps of not only the colonies, but the Americas. Following his death in 1771, his business was taken over by Robert Sayer and John Bennett who published all of Jefferys’ formerly separate issued maps in atlas form for the first time with the work entitled The American Atlas. The work is considered the most important 18th century for America, reported by the late William Walter Ristow to be ‘a geographical description of the whole continent of America, as portrayed by the best available maps in the latter half of the 18th century as a major cartographic reference work it was very likely to have been consulted by American, English and French civilian administrators and military officers during the Revolution.’ The knowledge of the topography of America as depicted in the Atlas impacted not only the strategy of the War of Independence, but also the course of future negotiations and treaties.
The maps comprise: 1, 2, 3: Braddock Mead (alias John Green). "A Chart of North and South America, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans " Published 10 June 1775. Six sheets joined into three. 4: Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg. "The Russian Discoveries." Published 2 March 1775. One sheet. 5, 6: Emanuel Bowen and John Gibson. "An Accurate Map of North America Describing and distinguishing the British and Spanish Dominions." Published 2 July 1775. Four sheets joined into two. 7: Thomas Jefferys. "North America from the French of Mr. D'Anville." Published 10 June 1775. One sheet. 8: Samuel Dunn. "A Map of the British Empire in North America." Published 10 January 1774. One sheet. 9: Thomas Jefferys. "An Exact Chart of the River St. Laurence from Fort Frontenac to the Island of Anticosti." Published 25 May 1775. Two sheets joined into one. 10: Sayer and Bennett. "A Chart of the Gulf of St. Laurence " Published 25 March 1775. One sheet. 11: "A Map of the Island of St. John in the Gulf of St. Laurence." Published 6 April 1775. One sheet. 12: James Cook and Michael Lane. "A General Chart of the Island of Newfoundland." Published 10 May 1775. One sheet.
13: "A Chart of the Banks of Newfoundland." Published 25 March 1775. One sheet. 14: Thomas Jefferys. "A New Map of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island with the adjacent parts of New England and Canada." Published 15 June 1775. One sheet. 15, 16: Braddock Mead (alias John Green). "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of New England." Published 29 November 1774. Four sheets joined into two. 17: Samuel Holland. "The Provinces of New York and New Jersey; with part of Pensilvania, and the Governments of Trois Rivieres, and Montreal." Published 15 June 1775. Two sheets joined into one. 18: Thomas Jefferys. "A general Map of The Middle British Colonies." Published 15 June 1775. One sheet. 19: William Scull. "A Map of Pennsylvania Exhibiting not only the Improved Parts of the Province but also its Extensive Frontiers." Published 10 June 1775. Two sheets joined into one. 20, 21: Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson. "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland with Part of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina." Undated. Four sheets joined into two.
22, 23: Henry Mouzon. "An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina with their Indian Frontiers." Published 30 May 1775. Four sheets joined into two. 24: Thomas Jefferys. "The Coast of West Florida and Louisiana." Published 20 February 1775. Two sheets joined into one. 25: Lieut. Ross. "Course of the River Mississipi [sic] Taken from the Expedition to Illinois in the latter end of the year 1765." Published 1 June 1775. Two sheets joined into one. 26: Thomas Jefferys. "The Bay of Honduras." Published 20 February 1775. One sheet. 27, 28: J.B.B. D'Anville. "A Map of South America " Published 20 September 1775. Four sheets joined into two. 29: Cruz Cano, et al. "A Chart of the Straits of Magellan." Published 1 July 1775. One sheet.
This atlas represents the most comprehensive and detailed collection of groundbreaking maps of North America in the American Revolutionary War period. Its impact of the War and subsequent development of the colonies cannot be overstated.
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Inventory No. 12092