"The Seat of War on the Coast of Choramandel. Accommodated with a Memoir July 1754", 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 shows part of the Carnatic Region to illustrate the Carnatic Wars in the mid-eighteenth century, which resulted in a British victory. The map shows the coastline from approximately Manamelkudi in the south to Pulicat Lake in the north, and as far west as Tiruchirappalli. The legend identifies temples, residences of Mogol Governors or Indian Princes, lodging, and fortified locations. A color-coded guide indicates which locales are under control of the British, Danish, French, Dutch and Portuguese.

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Condition: A

A crisp impression with contemporary outline color on a sheet with the watermarks of a Strasbourg bend & lily and the initials "LVG." There is marginal soiling and some edge tears that have been closed on verso with archival tape.