Important Map of the Georgia Colony

"A New Map of Georgia, with Part of Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. Drawn from Original Draughts, Assisted by the Most Approved Maps and Charts", Bowen, Emanuel

Scarce and important early map of colonial Georgia published shortly after the founding of the colony to accompany a new chapter on the history of Georgia for Harris' Voyages. The map covers from Charles Town to the Mississippi River and extends into Florida to C. Canaveral. The coastal settlements are well delineated, as are the Indian villages and forts (both French and English). The Indian tribes are noted as being friendly or hostile to the English. Major roads and trading paths are well depicted, many not found previously on a printed map. This was an entirely original production by Bowen, geographer to King George II of England and one of the leading English cartographers of the eighteenth century. One of the interesting things about this map is that it was used in a 1981 Supreme Court battle over the location of the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina at the mouth of the Savannah River. This map was presented as evidence of Georgia's claim that the boundary lies on the northern bank of the river.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.HARR-1a #20; Cumming (SE) #267; TMC, Issue 19, p.27-31.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression on watermarked paper, originally issued folding and now pressed flat. There are light dampstains along the border at top, minor toning, and a previous owner's stamp on verso that just shows through in the right blank margin.