Laurie & Whittle's Large-Scale Map of North America

"A New Map of North America; with the West India Islands. Divided According to the Preliminary Articles of Peace, Signed at Versailles, 20, Jan. 1783", Laurie & Whittle

This large, influential map had a long and varied publishing history. Originated by Emanuel Bowen & John Gibson and published by Robert Sayer in circa 1755 to illustrate the seat of the French and Indian War, the map went through numerous revisions and editions to document the expanding cartographic knowledge and political landscape of North America. This is the eleventh edition; the third issue following the formation of the United States. The map provides an extremely detailed view of the continent at the conclusion of the American Revolution. The United States is shown with its 1783 treaty border and the British and Spanish possessions are noted. It locates hundreds of settlements and Indian villages and is filled with interesting notations referring to native tribes and historical events. A number of roads are shown on the map stretching all the way to New Mexico and New Navaar. There are two interesting inset maps. One shows the discoveries of Father Eusebius Kino in the Southwest that proved that California was not an island. The other illustrates the ongoing search for a Northwest Passage, showing Baffin and Hudson Bays with the fictional Lake de Fonte reaching nearly to Baffin Bay. It is embellished with a bold title cartouche featuring Native Americans and indigenous animals. Printed on four sheets, now professionally joined.

References: Phillips (Maps) p. 865.

Condition: B+

Attractive color on watermarked paper with very faint offsetting in some of the blank areas of the map. Professionally backed with tissue to reinforce and repair a thin, 3.5" crack to the left of the title cartouche and a 1.25" tear in central Mexico.