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[ Locations | Map themes & related | Cartographers ]
[ 19th century regional maps of the U.S. ]
An attractive, large scale sea chart of the area around the Chesapeake Bay from Norfolk to New York. The son of French parents, Mortier was born in France but lived and worked in Amsterdam (1661-1722). A bookseller and publisher from about 1685, he entered into the map-trade in 1690 and soon became known as a publisher of some of the finest maps of the period. Though there is no definite attribution, this map was derived by Jaillot from the work of two Englishman, William Fisher and John Thornton. These two men published in 1689 what was to become for over one hundred years, a virtually unaltered sailing chart of the Chesapeake area. This map improved upon earlier maps showing greater detail of soundings, sand bars, and new place names, especially along the Virginia coast, that was not previously known. This map was, therefore, one of the most accurate of its time.
This map is a sea chart that was part of Mortier's Le Neptune Francois, and it has a western orientation, as this is the way one would see the land as one sailed towards it from Europe. The map shows the coastline from below Cape Henry to Staten Island, naming nearly every creek and inlet along these coasts. Interesting details of this map include the presence of sand bars and a "sunken marais [marsh]" off-shore of Staten Island (no Manhattan shown); the wealth of detail throughout the Chesapeake Bay; the amount of settlement along the James and York Rivers; and the recognition of Philadelphia as the only city of any substance. The rose compasses and rhumb lines along with the hand coloring, make the map very attractive. Unusually large for a sea chart, the map was obviously intended as something of a showpiece. Decoratively and historically a show-stopper. $8,500
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. $35,000
Joseph T. Scott. "Virginia." From United States Gazetteer. Philadelphia: J. Scott, 1795. First state. 6 x 7 3/8. Engraving by J. Scott. Very good condition. Wheat & Brun: 569.
This is one of the earliest American maps of Virginia, from the first American gazetteer. Joseph T. Scott, a Philadelphia engraver and publisher, issued his gazetteer during the early days of American cartography, and the maps of the individual states and territories are very good. Scott included much detail of rivers, counties, roads, and towns. This map of Virginia shows many towns along the Chesapeake and its tributaries, as well as some settlements in the western parts of the state such as Morgantown, Clarksburg, Lewisburg, and New London. As an early example of American cartography and an fascinating document of Virginia history, this is a gem. $325
Mathew Carey. "Virginia." From American Pocket Atlas. Philadelphia: M. Carey, 1801. 5 3/4 x 7 1/2. Engraving by W. Barker. Minor transference and light stain at centerfold. Otherwise, very good condition. Cf. Wheat & Brun: 570.
A lovely map of Virginia from Carey's American Pocket Atlas of 1801. This is the second state of one of the very early American maps of Virginia; the first state was issued by Mathew Carey in 1796. Unlike many other cartographers of the day, Carey updated his maps in subsequent versions, and this 1801 example from the Pocket Atlas is a good example of this. In 1796 either Carey did not have much information on the roads, or he thought it not important. However, by 1801, this had changed and Carey added clear delineations of the major roads in the state. He also depicted other new information, including an outline of the District of Columbia. Overall this is an excellent American map of the state. $275
Anthony Finley. "Virginia." Philadelphia: A. Finley, 1827. From A New General Atlas. 8 3/4 x 11 1/3. Engravings by Young & Delleker. Original hand color. Minor stain in outside margin. Otherwise, very good condition.
In the 1820's, Anthony Finley produced a series of fine atlases in the then leading American cartographic center, Philadelphia. Finley's work is a good example of the quality that American publishers were beginning to obtain. Each map is elegantly presented, with crisp and clear engraving and very attractive pastel hand shading. Topographical and political information is copious, including counties, towns, rivers, roads and so on. Finley was very concerned to depict as up-to-date information as was possible, and thus his maps present an accurate picture of the world in the early decades of the nineteenth century. An excellent series of maps from the nascent American cartographic world. $250
Thomas G. Bradford. "Virginia." From A Universal Illustrated Atlas. Boston: Chares D. Strong., [1838]-1842. 11 3/8 x 14 1/8. Engraving by G.W. Boynton. Original hand color. Very good condition.
A precisely engraved map by Thomas G. Bradford, a Boston map publisher. This map was first issued in the 1838 edition of Bradford's atlas, and this example was published four years later. This map is up-to-date in showing the political and topographical situation with very good accuracy. Detail includes rivers, lakes, towns, and counties. Also shown are early canals and railroads. The whole is attractively presented with original hand coloring. A rare and early map of Virginia. $350
Henry S. Tanner. "A New Map of Virginia with its Canals, Roads & Distances from place to place along the Stage & Steam Boat Routes." From A New Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1842/43. 10 3/4 x 13. Engraving by W. Brose. Full original hand coloring. Very good condition.
An excellent map of Virginia by the great American cartographer, Henry Schenck Tanner. In 1816, Henry, his brother Benjamin, John Vallance and Francis Kearny formed an engraving firm in Philadelphia. Having had experience at map engraving through his work with John Melish, Tanner conceived of the idea of compiling and publishing an American Atlas, which was begun in 1819 by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co.. Soon Tanner took over the project on his own, and thus began his career as cartographic publisher. The American Atlas was a huge success, and this inspired Tanner to produce his 1833 Universal Atlas, of more manageable size. This atlas contained excellent maps of each state, focusing on the transportation network, including roads, railroads and canals. All details are clearly presented, and these include towns, rivers, mountains, political boundaries and the transportation information. In 1842/43, Carey & Hart issued an edition of the atlas, and the maps were later purchased by S. Augustus Mitchell, and then Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co.. Maps from the early Tanner/Carey & Hart edition are very rare. This map of Virginia is typical of the Tanner maps, and it shows the states at an interesting stage of their history. In the upper right is a profile of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and along the bottom is a listing of the steamboat routes from Richmond and Wheeling to various other cities. $375
Henry S. Tanner. "A New Map of Virginia with its Canals, Roads & Distances from place to place along the Stage & Steam Boat Routes." From Tanner's Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1844. 10 3/4 x 13. Engraving by W. Brose. Full original hand coloring. Very good condition.
Carey & Hart reissued their version of Tanner's Universal Atlas in 1844, including this nice map of Virginia. $375
"A New Map of Virginia with its Canals, Roads & Distances..along the Stage & Steam Boat Routes." From Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, 1849. 11 1/2 x 13 3/4. Lithographic transfer from engraved plate. Full original hand color. Some typical paper toning at edges. Very good condition.
In 1849, the Philadelphia firm of S. Augustus Mitchell issued an edition of Tanner's Universal Atlas. It continued the publication of the fine state maps, updated for new information. This was near the beginning of the history of the Mitchell firm, which would come to dominate American cartography in output and influence. This early map of Virginia is a good example of the firm's output. Topographical information, including towns, rivers, roads, etc. is clearly shown, and the counties are shaded with contrasting pastel shades. This map is especially interesting in its depiction of the transportation network in the state, including roads and railroads. A table at the bottom lists the steamboat routes, and along the top is a profile of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. An important source of information in this period of increased immigration and travel in the American south. $325
"A New Map of Virginia with its canals, roads & distances. . . along the stage and steamboat routes." Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., 1851. 10 3/4 x 12 3/4. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition. Contains an inset "Profile of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal."
After Mitchell issued his edition of the Universal Atlas, the rights were purchased by another Philadelphia firm, Thomas, Cowperthwait. This is their version of the map above. It contains a great deal of information on political boundaries, topography, and the modes of transportation for both present-day Virginia as well as West Virginia which was not separated until the Civil War years. Besides the profile inset, the bottom margin features a table of miles between points by steamboat. $225
John Bachmann. "Bird's Eye View of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia." From a series entitled "Panorama of the Seat of War." New York: Charles Magnus, 1864. 24 1/4 x 36. Tinted lithograph. Some small, expertly repaired short tears. Otherwise, very good condition.
This fascinating print is half view, half map. The scene looks down upon the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from a 'bird's eye view.' It shows the progress of the Union blockade against the Confederates, and it was designed for a Northern audience. Along the right side one can see Wilmington, Baltimore, and Harper's Ferry, including the water and road network that connected these points to the south. Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Washington are seen in the center of the image, with fine detail. Also shown are the forts and ships along and in the Chesapeake and to the north. A dramatic and informative image of the center of action during the Civil War. $2,700
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