Catalog Archive
Auction 167, Lot 44

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

"[On 4 Sheets] 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

Subject: Western Hemisphere - America

Period: 1786 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
46.8 x 20.3 inches
118.9 x 51.6 cm
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An impressive, four-sheet map of North and South America, originally drawn by John Gibson in 1763 with a slightly different title. The map went through several revisions; this being the fifth state. 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. The new United States is shown with its boundary on the Mississippi River. 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. At lower left is an inset map of Hudson and Baffin's Bay. Above the inset is a large text panel listing of the states and the colonial possessions of the various European powers. The baroque style title cartouche features a beaver, a crocodile, an Indian headdress amid trees, a waterfall and tropical flora. This example is joined in two long, horizontal sheets, joining the two northern and the two southern sheets. If fully joined, the map would measure 46.5 x 40.7".

References: Tooley (America) p. 52, #3.e; McGuirk #112.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression with original outline color on paper with the watermarks of a large fleur-de-lis coat of arms and "IV." There is minor offsetting, light soiling, an extraneous vertical crease on the top sheet at right, and a small damp stain on each sheet along the left-hand fold. The primary image has been digitally merged together - the map is not fully joined.

Estimate: $1,100 - $1,400

Sold for: $650

Closed on 3/28/2018

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