Catalog Archive
Auction 137, Lot 144

Rare German Edition of an Important Revolutionary War Period Map

"The Provinces of New York, and New Jersey; with Part of Pensilvania, and the Province of Quebec. Drawn by Major Holland…", Holland/Pownal

Subject: Colonial Northeast and Quebec

Period: 1777 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
20 x 52.3 inches
50.8 x 132.8 cm
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This is Heinrich Ludwig Broenner's German edition of Thomas Jefferys' two-sheet map based on the surveys of Major Samuel Holland and Governor Thomas Pownall. Holland originally conducted the surveys to settle a boundary dispute between New York and New Jersey and later as Surveyor for the Northern District for the Board of Trade. These surveys provided the British with essential information for the conduct of the military campaigns in the Revolutionary War. German mercenaries, or Hessians, comprised a large segment of British forces in the war resulting in great interest within the German public. This rare edition was published in Frankfurt-am-Main, the largest city in Hesse, home to the majority of these conscripted soldiers.

The map covers the region from Lac St. Pierre in the Province of Quebec to Maryland and Delaware showing the important trade corridor between New York and Montreal. It includes incredible detail of the individual landowners, roads, forts and mills. Three insets are featured at top: "A Chart of the Mouth of the Hudson River from Sandy Hook to New York," "A Plan of the City of New York," and "Plan of Amboy with its Environs." The northern portion of New York is marked Beaver Hunting Country of the Confederate Indians, and New Jersey is split into East and West. The pictorial cartouche features a beautiful view of the Hudson River. Engraved by Heinrich Coentgen. Two sheets joined.

References: cf. Goss #69; McCorkle #768.3; Sellers & Van Ee, #1046; Pritchard & Taliaferro p.24; Tooley (A) #44.

Condition: B+

Original color with a few insignificant spots and some marginal soiling. A few small holes have been expertly repaired with minute loss of image, and there is additional paper restoration in the blank margins, with the bottom blank margin remargined.

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Sold for: $2,600

Closed on 9/14/2011

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