Jeffreys, Thomas | A handsome copy of this authoritative atlas

Jeffreys, Thomas

The American Atlas; or, A Geographical Description of the Whole Continent of America. London: Printed and Sold by R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1776

Folio (550 x 395 mm). Letterpress title and index leaf, otherwise engraved throughout, 23 engraved maps on 30 sheets, of which one is single page, 11 double-page, and 18 folding, by Henry Mouzon, William Scull, Lewis Evans, and others, all on guards, each map handcolored in outline, contemporary manuscript numbering to verso of maps; some foxing, browning, staining, and offsetting throughout, sheet 2 with pen mark to lower left quadrant and right edge repaired, sheet 5 with some browning, staining, and closed tear to fold repaired, lower edge of sheet 17 repaired, sheet 20 with repair to closed split to fold, right and left edges of sheet 23 repaired, left edge of sheet 24 repaired, a few minor marginal repairs to other sheets (3, 4, 9, 16, 26, 29, and 30). Expertly bound to style in half eighteenth-century russia over contemporary marbled paper covered boards, spines with raised bands in 7 compartments, gilt-lettered morocco label to second, others with repeat decoration in gilt; minor rubbing to boards, endpapers renewed.

"One of the most authoritative and comprehensive atlases of America" (Ristow)

It compares well with the Pownall map in size and scope, from which many of its parts were developed. It also provides the definitive delineation of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War era and extensive reconnaissance mapping of French Canada, including Newfoundland.

The present second edition, issued in 1776, includes "A New Map of the Province of Quebec," which represents a significant addition, in place of Jeffreys' "The Middle British Colonies," and a second issue of Samuel Holland's "The Provinces of New York and New Jersey," published on 20 December 1775.

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 19; Howes J-81; Phillips, cf. 1166, 1165; Ristow (bibliographical note, in American Atlas [facsimile of 1776 edition], 1973); Sabin 35953, note