"Map of North America, Exhibiting the Recent Discoveries. Geographical & Nautical", Wyld, James

This finely engraved map is filled with superb details and prominently depicts the independent Republic of Texas in its smaller configuration. Although the borders of Texas are delineated by dotted line as on other examples, the colorist of this example does not follow Rio Roxo or Red R. as the northern boundary and creates an unnamed territory between narrow New Mexico and Arkansas Territory. In the United States there is a large Missouri territory that encompasses most of the West. Wyld introduced a number of new ideas concerning the watershed in the West with four great westward flowing rivers seeking the sea from the Great Basin. The most prominent is the Bueneventura River that flows from Salt Lake of Teguayo to the Pacific. Further north, the Sacramento River is shown to possibly flow from L. Yeutaw noted as probably L. Timpanogos of the Spaniards. In the Northwest, the R. de los Mongas and the McKinley Branch form the headwaters of the Willamette River. Alaska is denoted as Russian Possessions. The British Possessions extend to the Columbia River reflecting the British side of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. The map is surrounded in bold keyboard-style borders. Drawn by Wyld and engraved by Stockley.

James Wyld was successor to William Faden, one of the luminaries of late eighteenth century publishing in England. Wyld maintained the high standard of graphic and factual excellence that had been established by his predecessor and his maps are among the finest published in the early nineteenth century.

References: Wheat (TMW) #473.

Condition: A

Contemporary color on a sturdy sheet with faint marginal toning.