Patrick Browne's Important Large-Scale Map of Jamaica

"A New Map of Jamaica in Which Several Towns, Forts, and Settlements, Are Accurately Laid Down as Well as ye Situations & Depts of ye Most Harbours & Anchoring Places...",

This is Patrick Browne's important large-scale map of the island, which was drawn from the surveys of Mr. Sheffield. Kapp notes this map as "the first large-scale map of Jamaica." It includes a vast amount of information including topographical details, parish boundaries, roads, towns, churches, forts, taverns, crawls (hog pens), settler's names, plantations (with notations on the dominant crops - sugar, ginger, coffee and indigo). Along the coastline there are soundings, safe anchorages and navigational hazards noted. A large inset provides a plan of Port Royal that shows the infamous pirate stronghold both before and after the earthquake that destroyed much of the town in 1692. Sold by R. Wilkinson and Bowles & Carver, and engraved by John Bayly. Printed on two sheets, joined.

Patrick Browne, a native of Ireland and a physician by training, settled in Jamaica in 1746. There he studied the geology, botany, and zoology of the island, publishing this large wall map first in 1755 and then Civil and Natural History of Jamaica in 1756, which was complete with text, maps, and engravings of the island. Browne's large-scale map of Jamaica was republished two additional times, including this example, which is the third state.

References: cf. Kapp (MCC-42) #71; Sellers & Van Ee #1916.

Condition: B

Original outline color with light toning and offsetting. There is a small stain at top left, and the map has been trimmed close to the neatlines at right and left. There are several long fold separations that have been closed on verso with archival tape. A 3" tear extending into the title cartouche at top right has been closed on verso with old paper.