"A Chart of the Banks of Newfoundland, Drawn from a Great Number of Hydrographical Surveys, Chiefly from Those of Chabert, Cook and Fleurieu, Connected and Ascertained by Astronomical Observations", Jefferys/Sayer & Bennett

Thomas Jefferys was one of the most important English map publishers of the 18th century. His work included prints and maps of locations around the world, but his most notable maps are of North America and the West Indies. He began his career in the map trade in the early 1730s, working as an engraver for a variety of London publishers, and eventually setting up his own shop. In 1746, he was appointed Geographer to the Prince of Wales, and in 1760 he became Geographer to the King. These titles granted access to manuscripts and cartographic information held by the government. In the early 1760s he embarked on an ambitious project to produce a series of English county maps based on new surveys, but ran out of money and filed for bankruptcy in 1766. He then partnered with London publisher Robert Sayer, who reissued many of Jefferys plates and continued to issue new editions after Jefferys' death in 1771. Jefferys' American Atlas and the accompanying West-India Atlas, published post posthumously, are considered his most important cartographic works.

A large-scale chart of Newfoundland, part of Cape Breton Island and the Great Banks. Tracks of the three great surveys are shown with vignettes of their ships. The banks are filled with soundings and the coasts are finely detailed. A table of astronomical observations on which this chart is grounded includes Cook's observations of an eclipse of the sun on August 5, 1766 and longitudes ascertained by the marine clocks of Berthoud.

References: Phillips (A) 1165-13.

Condition: B

Issued on watermarked paper with light offsetting, centerfold toning, and centerfold separations at top and bottom confined to the blank margins.