1676 RARE Map NEW DESCRIPTION OF CAROLINA USA by John Speed & Bassett Chiswell

1676 RARE Map NEW DESCRIPTION OF CAROLINA USA by John Speed & Bassett Chiswell

1676 "A New Description of CAROLINA Sold by Thomas Basset in Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell in t Pauls Church yard"

Following the restoration of Charles II eight Lords Proprietors received a grant of the lands in North America between 31 and 36 degrees latitude, with the southern boundary later extended to 29 degrees. Early attempts at settling “Carolina” were unsuccessful, and some of the proprietors arranged for John Ogilby to include a map in his America, essentially a promotional work intended to encourage the development of England’s American colonies. This so-called “First Lords Proprietors’ Map” incorporated material from a variety of sources, including surveys in the possession of the proprietors themselves, John Lederer’s 1672 map of the interior, and even the antiquated cartography of Le Moyne to the south.

The present map is based closely on the Ogilby prototype, with just minor text changes and the substitution of a cartouche for an inset of the Ashely and Cooper Rivers. It appeared in Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World, originally published by John Speed in 1626 and reissued in expanded form by Basset and Chiswell in 1676. The Basset and Chiswell edition introduced three regional maps of North American interest, including this map of the Carolinas as well as maps of New England and New York and of Virginia and Maryland.

John Speed (1551-1629) was the best known English mapmaker of that period Speed came to map making late in life, producing his first maps in the 1590s and entering the trade in earnest when he was almost 60 years old. John Speed's fame, which continues to this day, lies with two atlases - "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine" (first published in 1612) and the "Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World" (1627). Whilst the "Theatre...." started as soley a County Atlas, it grew into an impressive world atlas with the inclusion of the "Prospect....." in 1627. The plates for the atlas passed through many hands in the 17th century and the book finally reachsed its apotheosis in 1676 when it was published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, with a number of important maps added for the first time.

The example is in outstanding condition with central fold as issued, good clear margins and later hand colour. In the bottom margin, just right of the central fold is a small repair in the outer margin to cover an old library stamp.

Overall size including the margins approx 41.5cm x 53cm.

£2,900.00

1 in stock