Important Map for California and Baja California Collectors

"An Accurate Map of California, Drawn by the Society of Jesuits & Dedicated to the King of Spain", Gibson, John

This is the English edition of Miguel Venegas' map of Baja California, Mexico, and southern Arizona. This map appeared in Venegas' A Natural and Civil History of California (1758), which is often cited as the first work in English devoted entirely to California. Venegas' original work, Noticia de la California, y de su Conquista Temporal, y Espiritual Hasta el Tiempo Presente, published in 1757, is also attributed to Father Andres Marcos Burriel, who compiled the work from Venegas' manuscript and was responsible for writing and editing the 3-volume work.

Noticia de la California... included a Spanish-language edition of this map, Mapa de la California su Golfo, y Provincias Fronteras en el Continente de Nueva Espana , and was surrounded by vignettes. The map was intended as an update of Father Eusebio Kino's map, which was based on Jesuit sources. The English edition of Venegas' work featured a newly engraved map, minus the vignettes. Gibson's edition is a faithful copy of the original Spanish edition, incorporating most of the Spanish names, with only a few translated into English. The map extends north to the Gila River and shows missions and Indian towns. The lovely rococo title cartouche includes a vignette of a galley anchored near the coast.

An important and hard to find map for any California or Baja California collector.

References: Howes #V69; Sabin #98845; cf. Wheat (TMW) #138.

Condition: A

A lovely, dark impression on paper with a "V" watermark. Issued folding, now flattened, with minor soiling and archival repairs to a couple of tiny holes at fold intersections. The bottom margin is narrow.