"The Island of Jamaica and Cape Gracias a Dios with the Banks ", Jefferys/Sayer

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 superb chart of Jamaica and the Mosquito coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua, labeled here Moskito King's Party. The map includes extraordinary navigational details with extensive depth soundings, shoals and reefs, and includes the Galleons Track from Cartagena to Havana. Various types of vegetation are identified including coconut trees, pine trees, bamboo, and grape vines. The chart is embellished with two dramatic wind roses in the upper corners and several shipping routes. This is the first state, published by Robert Sayer.

References: Kapp (MCC-42) #102; Sellers & Van Ee #1929; Shirley (BL Atlases) M.JEF-4a #16.

Condition: A

A crisp impression on paper with a large fleur-de-lis watermark, a hint of toning along the centerfold, and a couple of minor separations along the centerfold that have been archivally repaired. There is light toning along the edges of the sheet.