Description

PUBLICATION DETAILS: Imprint: London: Printed for R. Sayer and J. Bennet, Map and Print-Sellers, (No. 53) Fleet-street.  Octavo (9”h x 5 ¾” w.). Letterpress text. Title (verso blank), dedication to Gov. Pownall, advertisement, and list of maps (verso blank).  Six folding engraved maps, printed on heavy paper. Bound in contemporary quarter leather marbled paper-covered boards, spine ruled in gilt in six compartments, lettered short title in the second compartment.
 
ADVERTISEMENT: The Advertisement states: “Surveys and Topographical Charts being fit only for a Library, such Maps as an Officer may take with him into the Field have been much wanted. The following Collection forms a Portable Atlas of North America, calculated in its Bulk and Price to suit the Pockets of Officers of all Ranks”. Although the publishers claimed the atlas would fit into an officer’s pocket, it was usually carried in a holster gaining its nick-name.  One of the most important atlases of the American Revolution, it was designed for use in the field.
   
The Atlas included the “maps that the British high command regarded as providing essential topographical information in the most convenient form” (Schwartz & Ehrenberg). This collection of six maps was published by Sayer and Bennet at the beginning of the American Revolution for the use of British officers. The “Advertisement” describes these first two maps as “a General Map of the Part of the Globe, called North America, and a Second General Map of those Islands, Shores, Gulfs, and Bays, which form what is commonly called the West Indies; these we consider as Introductory, and as giving a General Idea, and we trust a just one.”
 
MAPS: The six folded maps are as follows:
 
1. Samuel Dunn, North America, as divided amongst the European Powers. By Samuel Dunn, Mathematician.  London: Printed for Robt. Sayer … 10 Jany. 1774. (12 x 16 inches). Upper margin toned at edge.
 
2. Samuel Dunn. A Compleat Map of the West Indies, Containing the coasts of Florida, Louisiana, New Spain, and Terra Firma: with all the islands by Samuel Dunn, Mathematician. London: Printed for Robt. Sayer… 10 January 1774. (11 ¾ x 17 ½ inches). Partially separated along one fold line through title.
 
3. A General Map of the Northern British Colonies in America. Which comprehends the Province of Quebec, the Government of Newfoundland, Nova-Scotia, New-England and New-York. From the maps published by the Admiralty and Board of Trade, Regulated by the Astronomic and Trigonometric Observations of Major Holland and Corrected from Governor Pownall’s late Map 1776. London: Printed for Robt. Sayer & Jno. Bennett …14 August 1776. Engraved map, hand-colored in outline (18 ¾ x 26 inches).  Also a title in the top margin: The Seat of War in the Northern Colonies …. First state, also issued as a separate map. This map was re-issued in 1788 with the title changed to reflect the existence of the United States. McCorkle, 776.11; Nebenzahl, pp.11-13 with two-page illustrations; Sellers & Van Ee, 143; Stevens & Tree, 65 (a).
 
4. Lewis Evans. . A General Map of the Middle British Colonies, in America. Containing Virginia, Maryland, the Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With the addition of New York, and the greatest part of New England, as also of the bordering parts of the Province of Quebec, improved from several surveys made after the late war, and corrected from Governor Pownall’s late Map 1776. Lower right: London: Printed for R. Sayer & J. Bennett …15 October 1776.  (19 x 27 inches). Based on Lewis Evans’ map of 1755, with additions and corrections. Also, a title in the upper margin: The Seat of War in the Middle British Colonies…. Nebenzahl, p. 11 and illustrated on pp. 14-15.
 
5. Bernard Romans. A General Map of the Southern British Colonies, in America. comprehending North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, with the Neighbouring Indian Countries. From the Modern Surveys of Engineer de Brahm, Capt. Collet, Mouzon & Others; and from the Large Hydrographical Survey of the Coasts of East and West Florida. By B. Romans. Under bottom neatline: London: Printed for R. Sayer & J. Bennett [sic.] … 15^th Octr. 1776.  (20 3/4 x 25 5/8 inches). Based on charts and maps by Roman and others. Another title above top neatline: The Seat of War in the Southern British Colonies…. Nebenzahl illustrated pp. 16-17.
 
6. William Furness Brassier(1745-1772). A Survey of Lake Champlain including Lake George, Crown Point, and St. John. Surveyed by Order of His Excellency Major-General Sr. Jeffery Amherst, Knight of the most Honble. Order of the Bath. Commander in Chief of his Majesty’s Forces in North America (now Lord Amherst) by William Brassier, Draughtsman. 1762. London: Robt. Sayer & Jno. Bennet, 5 Aug., 1776. (18 ½” x 25 ¾”). Also issued as the first separately published map of Lake Champlain. This excellent detailed chart was based on a survey made during the French and Indian War, but not published until the Revolution. Included is an inset, “A Particular Plan of Lake George” illustrating America’s first naval battle in which General Benedict Arnold was able to delay the British attempt to descend to the Hudson for that year. Fite & Freeman, p. 212; Nebenzahl, p.61 and illus on pp. 62-63; Sellers & van Ee, 1073; Stevens & Tree, 25 (a).

CONDITION: Some sections toned at upper edge. Binding worn all around.
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Fite & Freeman, A Book of Old Maps.

Howes A208.

McCorkle, New England in Early Printed Maps.

Nebenzahl, Atlas of the American Revolution.

Phillips, List of Atlases, 1206.

Schwartz & Ehrenberg, The Mapping of America, p.190.

Sellers & van Ee, Maps and Charts of North America.

Stevens & Tree, “Comparative Cartography” in Tooley, The Mapping of America.

Streeter, The Celebrated Collection of Americana, 73, illustrating the title page.