Impressive Four-Sheet Map Featuring the New United States and Two Possible Locations for a <i>River of the West</i>

"A New Map of the Whole Continent of America, Divided Into North and South and West Indies ... Wherein Are Exactly Described the United States of North America...", Sayer, Robert

This impressive, large-scale map of North and South America was originally drawn by John Gibson in 1763 with a slightly different title. The map went through several revisions; this is the fifth state, with the title amended to indicate the newly formed "United States of America." The new country is marked with a dotted western boundary along the Mississippi River. The huge map is filled with incredible detail and is based on D'Anville's cartography, as well as Spanish explorations on the west coast of North America and the journals of Governor Pownall in New England and Canada. In the west are two possible locations for a River of the West; one with its source at Pike's Lake, the other further north at Lake Winnipeg. A Chinese colony, Fou Sang is shown in present-day British Columbia, just north of a notation concerning the Sea of the West. At lower left is an inset map of Hudson and Baffin's Bay. Above the inset are tables listing the states in the US and the colonial possessions of the various European powers. The baroque-style title cartouche features a beaver, a crocodile and an Indian headdress amid trees, a waterfall and tropical flora. This state is nearly identical to the fourth state, in which the Articles of the Treaty of Paris of 1763 were removed, and the shape of California was improved, with several place names added along the coast in the Pacific Northwest. Printed on four sheets, joined.

References: Stevens & Tree (MCC-39) #3e.

Condition: B+

A nice example with light toning along the joints, minor offsetting at bottom right, light soiling, and a printer's crease at bottom left. Professionally remargined at top.