"A New Chart of the Coast of New England, Nova Scotia, New France or Canada, with the Islands of Newfoundld. Cape Breton St. John's &c...", Jefferys, Thomas

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.

This uncommon map is based on Bellin's important map of the region done in 1744. It includes New England as far south as Boston, the St. Lawrence River just beyond Quebec, and as far north as Cape Round. Coastal detail features soundings and the fishing banks. There is an array of nice insets placed inland including a large map of the Atlantic Ocean showing the American coastline to South Carolina, also a "Plan of the City and Port of Louisbourg," "Fort Dauphin," and "City of Quebec". The large decorative title cartouche portrays a battle between war ships and a fortified city. Published in the February 1746 issue of Gentleman's Magazine.

References: Jolly #GENT-40; Kershaw #692.

Condition: B+

Issued folding on a bright sheet and now pressed flat. There are professional repairs to several small fold separations and a 5" edge tear at right. The sheet has been remargined at right with border replaced in facsimile.