Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 199

"Virginia Marylandia et Carolina in America Septentrionali Britannorum industria excultae", Homann, Johann Baptist

Subject: Colonial Mid-Atlantic

Period: 1720 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
22.6 x 19 inches
57.4 x 48.3 cm
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This handsome map of the mid-Atlantic colonies is balanced with an exquisite pictorial cartouche filling the lower right. There is a large hypothetical lake (Apalache Lacus) west of Craven County, Carolina. Some counties and many rivers of eastern Virginia are shown, but western Virginia is vague with only Germantown, Mister Krug's Plantation and Fort Christ Anna located. Florida is shown extending west of Virginia, all the way north to Lake Erie. Maryland along Cheseapeake Bay [sic] shows many rivers and towns with soundings in most bays, and the coastline of North Carolina is fairly accurate. Philadelphia is clearly shown although Pennsylvania is divided by a rambling Sasquesahanag River and is only vaguely depicted. New Jersey is divided vertically into west and east sections. There is a large Sandy Hook, a minuscule Manhattan, and a thin Long Island Sound. The huge title cartouche depicts European merchants, Indians, trade goods, and the fruits of land and sea -- imagery intended to attract people to the New World.

References: Cumming (SE) #156, Williams & Johnson #7.

Condition: B+

Dark early impression and fine hand coloring with original margins, close at left as usual for this map considering the large plate takes up most of the paper area. Some areas of split along centerfold with repair on verso. One small smudge at lower left against border.

Estimate: $1,800 - $2,200

Sold for: $1,400

Closed on 9/23/2009

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