A New General Atlas, Containing A Geographical and Historical Account of All the Empires, Kingdoms, and Other Dominions of the World Taken From the Best Authors to Which is Prefix'd An Introduction to Geography

SUBSCRIBER'S COPY. Folio (550 x 360 mm.), tall paper copy, full contemporary marled calf, ornate gilt ruled boards, spine with gilt ruled raised bands, each compartment with ornate central floral motif, gilt titles, marbled endpapers, upper joint cracking. With typographic title page printed in red and black with engraved vignette, Dedication, Preface, List of Subscribers, 13 engraved plates of arms of the subscribers, pp. (8), (1)-272, 141-261, (11), (with the second page numbered '261' in error), with 34 double-page maps (3 of which are town plans), all in early outline colour with the usual exception of the town plans and mounted on stubs, some marginal spotting, otherwise in good condition. A fine example of one of the earliest English world atlases which Sabin stated was 'chiefly interesting for the copiousness of its information concerning America which is illustrated by seven immense maps'. This is with the list of subscribers which is sometimes omitted. The origins of this work go back to Robert Morden who along with four booksellers proposed the idea of a 'New General Atlas'. Herman Moll along with others were tasked with their engraving. According to Moll the booksellers 'ten years after the first undertaking growing weary of the design, sold all the plates to Christopher Brown ? who got those finish'd he thought fit, and sold them publickly'.Browne retired around 1713 although according to Worms & Baynton-Williams he retained 'some publishing interests'. His premises passed to George Willdey. It is notable that the first name in the imprint on the title page is that of a Daniel Browne. To date we have not found any relationship to Christopher Browne. It is suggested as many of the maps in the atlas are ones identified as having been in Christopher Browne's possession.John Senex (c.1678-d.1740) was geographer to Queen Anne and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He began his career as a book seller later becoming an engraver and publisher. In 1714 he published the large folio 'English Atlas' which was followed by this folio 'New General Atlas' of 1721 offered here. The proposal for the atlas was advertised in the 'London Gazette' for 14?18 October 1718, announcing its publication 'shall be finished by Easter Term next'. It did not appear until 1721.The atlas contains 34 double page maps of which three are the usually uncoloured town plans of London, Amsterdam, and Rome. Three maps highlight the rapidly growing significance to Britain of the colonies in North America. The first is entitled the 'New Map of the English Empire in America' and extends from Newfoundland to the tip of Florida extending westwards to the Mississippi River. It was first published separately by Robert Morden and Christopher Browne c.1698. Its date is derived from its presence in the Custis Atlas, a composite Philip Lea atlas whose compilation can be dated to 1698. The inset plan of Boston Bay is derived from Thomas Pound's large-scale map of New England from 1691 surviving in just one known example.A second map focuses on Virginia and Maryland and was first again separately published by Christopher Browne c.1692. Browne already owned the plate produced for John Speed's atlas of 1676. However, that map drew upon the outdated model of John Smith from 1612. This had been superceded by Augustine Hermann's four-sheet map of 1673[74] and John Thornton and Robert Greene's folio map of c.1678. This was no doubt his improved plate to meet the no doubt increased demand for accurate maps of this prosperous region.The third is the first English map on Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. It is derived from Guillaume De L'Isle's map of 'Louisiane' but as might be expected the reference to French claims in Carolina are removed. Whilst it also names 'Tejas' (Texas) it omits to mention New Orleans which was founded in 1718 and appeared in the second state of De L'Isle's map. As Senex already covered the Virginia and northea.…