Various Maps from The New General Atlas of the Globe and World, Comprising A Complete Set of Maps Representing the Grand Divisions of the Globe, Together with The Several Empires, Kingdoms and States In The World
Anthony Finley, Philadelphia: 1824
Hand-colored engraving
10 1/4 x 13 inches each
Red Tag Price: $250 to $275 each (click on image for price)

Anthony Finley was among the greatest American map makers of the Federal period, publishing maps in Philadelphia rather than selling imported ones. In addition to his New General Atlas, published in various editions from 1824 and later, Finley published pocket maps for travelers and wall maps for school use. He often collaborated with the renowned cartographers and engravers of the Philadelphia area such as J.H. Young and Henry S. Tanner.

Scholar Walter Ristow describes Finley as follows:

"Little is known about his background, but he was probably born around 1790. Judging from contributors to his atlases, he apparently moved in the same Philadelphia circles of engravers and compilers as other contemporary publishers. Finley also borrowed freely from European sources in compiling his atlas." (Ristow, 268)

These maps come from the first edition of Finley's New General Atlas. Ristow quotes a review of the atlas the July 1824 issue of the North American Review:

"[T]he number of elegant maps and atlases which have come from the press within a short time in the United States, is a most flattering proof of increased attention of the community to the important study of geography. The present work contains sixty maps, about half of which are devoted to the American continent, and the remained to other parts of the world, chiefly to Europe. The engraving is done almost uniformly with remarkable distinctness and the face of the maps is frequently beautiful, not overloaded with a confusion of useless names." (Ristow, 268-9)

Condition: Each map generally very good with the usual light toning, soiling, wear overall. Some occasional light scattered foxing. Original colors bright, strong plate mark, margins ample.

Reference:

Ristow, Walter W. American Maps & Mapmakers: Commercial Cartography in the 19th Century. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 1985.

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