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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. $4,250
"Plan of the Battle Fought near Camden, August 16th. 1780." From Charles Stedman's History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War. London: J. Murray & al., 1794. Engraving. 8 1/4 x 71/4. Ref.: Nebenzahl, 90.
Generally there are two broad categories of contemporary maps of the American Revolution, those that were issued within about six months of the events depicted, and those issued later but before the end of the century. (J.B. Harley et al., Mapping the American Revolutionary War, p. 93ff.) The former type played a role as news maps of the happenings in America, but the latter were issued after the events illustrated were well known to their intended audience. These maps, some of which are the only contemporary published maps of the events shown, played a role in the analysis and commentary on the war subsequent to its finish. These maps were issued in magazines, as separate publications and as part of histories of the war. One such history was Stedman's. He was a loyalist from Philadelphia who issued his work in London in 1794. This is considered to be amongst the best contemporary accounts of the Revolution. "For years, the British author Charles Stedman's History ... provided the most useful military text and maps of that war." (Ibid, p.112). In this map of the Battle of Camden, the terrain is shown in sufficient detail to help interpret the action. The British line of march northward to the first order of battle is shown, as is the deployment of both armies by unit. The "references" name the British regiments, and the "flight of the Americans" and British pursuit are indicated. $600
John Norman. "Plan of the Town of Boston, with the Attack on Bunkers-Hill, in the Peninsula of Charlestown, the 17th of June, 1775." From An Impartial History of the War in America. Boston, 1781. 11 1/4 x 5 1/4. Engraving by John Norman. Some minor wear, but generally very good condition. Wheat & Brun: 241.
A very rare, contemporary American-made map of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The map shows the town of Boston with some detail, and then across the Charles River in Charlestown, the events of the engagement at Bunker's Hill. The streets and wharves of Boston are shown, as is the encampment of the British troops on the Commons. The positions of the English and American forces in Charlestown is also indicated, with depictions of various activities involved in the assault, including the bombardment of the American position by the British ships, the landing of the British troops, the attack on the hill, and "Charlestown in Flames." A key below the image identifies wards, and prominent buildings. The map came from a 1781 Boston edition of James Murray's history of the Revolution first issued in London the year before. It is based on the map in the London edition, which was based on a Sayer & Bennet map of 1775. It is the first Boston made map documenting this momentous event. It is an excellent example of early American map-making in the years immediately following the War for Independence. JT OUT ON APPROVAL
"A Plan of the Town and Chart of the Harbour of Boston Exhibiting a View of the Islands Castle Forts and Entrances into the said Harbour." From Gentleman's Magazine. London: David Henry & Francis Newberry, January, 1775. Engraving. 10 1/2 x 13. Professionally conserved and lined. Very good condition.
With events in Boston like the Tea Party and the Massacre, this region of particular interest to the reading public in England, not to mention the magazine's American readers. This map shows the town and city at the beginning of the turbulent year 1775, shortly before the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker's Hill. The town is shown with a basic street plan and surrounding communities are indicated. The focus of the map, however, is the harbor with its many islands and channels through them. A wonderful snapshot of Boston and environs during the time when it was the center of the bubbling turmoil in the colonies. $475
"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
T. Kitchin, Sr. "The Southern Part of the Province of New York: with Part of the adjoining Colonies." From London Magazine. London: March 1778. 9 1/2 x 7 1/4. Engraving. Two old tape maps showing through from verso. Otherwise, very good condition.
This map shows the area from New York City north to Albany, through which Burgoyne would have marched a few short months before this map was issued. Settlements and roads are shown throughout the region, as is the topography of this important region during the War of Independence. $375
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