"New World or Western Hemisphere", Faden, William

This terrific map of the Western Hemisphere delineates the tracks of Captain Cook's voyages and notes other discoveries as well. In North America, the United States is shown east of the Mississippi, with a large Louisiana to the river's west. New Mexico is identified as well. Much of the west is blank, although place names such as New Albion, Drake's Harbor, De Fuca's Entrance, and Nootka Sound appear along the coast. Alaska is fairly well developed. In South America, the fictitious lakes Parima and Xarayes are located. West of Tierra del Fuego are notations of Drake's Islands and Drake's Harbor, the latter of which is noted as "Doubtful." A fragment of Sandwich Land is depicted to the southeast of South America, and ice is noted around the Antarctic Circle. The map extends to include New Zealand and several Pacific islands.

William Faden took over the map business of Thomas Jefferys in 1771. He is best known for the splendid quality of his maps, resulting in his appointment as Geographer to the King and being selected to print the four sheets of the first Ordinance Survey map.

References:

Condition: B+

Contemporary color on a lightly toned sheet with light soiling and some extraneous creasing at right.