1785 Zatta Map of Mexico, Texas, and Florida

A nice example of Antonio Zatta's fascinating map of Mexico, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Central America. Centered on what would soon be known as Texas, this map covers from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay tot eh Isthmus of Panama. This remarkable map of the region, which predated Humboldt's landmark map of 1810, illustrates just how little was known of the American southwest north of Mexico. Cartographically Zatta offers little new information – for none was forthcoming form the Americas at the time – and derives most of this map from the work of Robert de Vaugondy, some 10 year prior. The mission settlements along the Rio del Nord (Rio Grande) are well noted, but other regions to the north and west remain paese incognito. Zatta sets the Rio del Palma as the northern border of New Spain (Mexico) and the border of Louisiana just west of the Mississippi, clearly defining the regional boundaries of Nuovo Messico roughly along the lines of early 19th century Texas. The Mississippi Valley itself is poorly represented, as is Florida, whose southern top is a network of islands and canals – a common if primitive attempt to describe the everglades. The lower left bears an interesting title cartouche decorated with curious flora supposedly indigenous to the region. Published in Zatta's 1795 Atlante Novissimo a monumental four volume opus and one of the last great decorative atlases of the 18th century.

Cartographer

Antonio Zatta (1722 - February 16, 1804) was a Venetian printer and publisher whose illustrated books and atlases made him a leading figure in late 18th-century Italian publishing. Born in Venice into a printing family active since 1656, he attempted to relocate to Rovereto in 1752, but Venetian authorities blocked the move. The merchant Amedeo Svajer financed his early ventures. His connections with the Jesuits, including publications defending the order under false imprints (1760 - 1761), attracted controversy, although these ties weakened during the 1760s. Geography became a major undertaking: he published Anton Friedrich Büsching's Nuova geografia in 34 volumes (1773 - 1782), followed by the four-volume Atlante novissimo, illustrato ed accresciuto (1779 - 1785), comprising approximately 240 maps. Portions appeared separately, notably Le colonie unite dell'America settentr.le, an Italian adaptation of John Mitchell's 1755 map. His geographical publications also included Cook's voyages (1794 - 1795) and the map-illustrated political periodical Prospetto degli affari attuali dell'Europa (1788 - 1801). Beyond cartography, he published literature, medicine, and Buffon's natural history (1782 - 1791), cultivating collaborations with leading Venetian illustrators and engravers. His sons Giacomo and Giovanni joined the business in 1783; the printing house closed shortly after his death.   Further Details...

Source

Zatta A., Atlante Novissimo, 1785.    

Condition

Good. Some soiling and marginal repairs. Original centerfold. Blank on verso.

References

Wheat, C. I., Mapping of the Transmississippi West, 1540 – 1861, #203.