Mathew Carey was a seminal figure in early American publishing; establishing the first publishing firm to specialize in cartography and issuing the first atlas devoted exclusively to American maps. He set up an elaborate cottage system of craftsmen for compiling, engraving, printing, and coloring maps. This practice was emulated by later American cartographic publishers such as John Melish and Henry S. Tanner. The American Atlas concept was also adopted by other publishers in both the United States and Europe.

This double-hemisphere world map is the first map in Carey's atlas. It reflects all three voyages of Captain Cook, tracing each voyage's route and noting Cook's death in Hawaii in 1779. Alaska is relatively well-mapped, with a note near its vaguely defined northern coast reading "North West Continent of America discovered by Capt. Cook in 1778." Australia is shown with Van Diemen's Land connected to the mainland. New Zealand is fully formed. In the United States, a vast Louisian dominates the land west of the Mississippi. The western coast is labeled New Albion, and there is a fragment of conjectural river in Quivira. Fields of ice are noted in the vicinity of the as-of-yet-undiscovered Antarctica. Engraved by Thackara & Vallance.

References: Phillips (Atlases) #1372-1.

Condition: B+

There are a few printer's creases and several short separations parallel to the centerfold that have been closed with archival materials on verso. In the blank margins, numerous tiny edge tears and a chip in the top right corner have all been repaired with archival materials. Light soiling.