Unattributed. “The New World or Western Hemisphere, with the addition of all the New Discoveries.”

Unattributed. “The New World or Western Hemisphere, with the addition of all the New Discoveries.”  From A New and Elegant General Atlas.  (London, 1810).

London: Laurie & Whittle, 1801.  8 1/4 x 10 (plate mark).  Engraving.  Excellent original color.  Smudges in margins, else very good condition.

In 1794, Robert Laurie and James Whittle took over Robert Sayer’s important publishing business in London and continued to produce maps of the highest quality into the early nineteenth century.  With access to the best geographic records and the finest craftsmen, the maps issued by Laurie & Whittle are among the best of the period.  This map of North and South America is a fine example, exhibiting surprising detail of both continents in a small format.  Rivers, lakes and mountains are well illustrated, with the continents highlighted in contrasting colors.  This map presents an excellent snapshot of the situation of the Americas at the beginning of the nineteenth century.