Description
The Midwest of the present-day United States, then claimed by the French, is called Louisiana; the southwestern part of North America is labeled New Mexico and Apaches. Other tribal names also appear elsewhere on the map, such as Cherokee in the southeast and Sioux in the north. The Hawaiian Islands are called Sandwich Islands, and the location where Cook was killed is noted. Australia is called “New Holland or Terra Australis.” Africa has areas labeled Negroland, Guinea, Caffreria, and Hotentots. The Arctic is labeled “Northern Icy Ocean” and shows the northeastern portion of Greenland as “Old Greenland found again the preceding Century.” Antarctica, then unexplored, is not depicted, though “Southern Icy Ocean,” “Field Ice” and “Isles of Ice” are indicated in the general area. The Antipodes of London are labeled.
Samuel Dunn was a British mathematician, cartographer, and amateur astronomer. Baptized in 1723, by age 19 he was teaching at his own academy. In 1757 he produced what he called “universal planispheres,” large stereographic maps. In 1774, he published New Atlas of the Mundane System, consisting of 62 copperplate engravings. Around the same time, he was appointed mathematical examiner of job candidates for the East India Company. He published several works on astronomy, geography, and navigation under the company’s auspices.
Robert Laurie (1755-1836) and James Whittle (1757-1818) were London map, chart and printsellers active from 1794 to 1812 trading variously as Laurie and Whittle or Whittle and Laurie. Laurie began his career as a fine mezzotint engraver and exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1770-76. With Whittle, they took over Robert Sayer’s business and Laurie stopped engraving. The firm published many atlases and maps as well as products used for jigsaws. Robert’s son, Richard Holmes Laurie, succeeded him upon his retirement in 1812, and after Whittle’s death in 1818 carried on the business alone until at least 1840. The firm still exists as Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd. and they have long specialized in marine charts.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, handling, wear. Printed on four sheets, joined, as issued, with the usual slight irregularities to lining up the sheets relative to the printing. Margins a bit short but ample for framing. Few small marginal chips and short tears professionally restored as laid on supporting Japanese paper.
References:
“Samuel Dunn (mathematician).” Wikipedia. 20 December 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Dunn_(mathematician) (26 January 2018).
Maxted, Ian. “The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members.” Exeter Working Papers in British Book Trade History. 2001. http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/lonl.html and http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/lonw.html (18 March 2002).
