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1844 Black Map of the West Indies

WestIndies-black-1844
$100.00
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1844 Black Map of the West Indies

WestIndies-black-1844


Title


West Indies.
  1844 (undated)     11 x 16 in (27.94 x 40.64 cm)     1 : 8800000

Description


This is a fine example of Adam and Charles Black's 1844 map of West Indies. Centered on Haiti or Santo Domingo, it covers the Caribbean from Florida to the Gulf of Panama and from Yucatan to the Lesser Antilles and Barbados. It includes the Bahamans, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and San Domingo (Hispaniola), Porto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Leeward and Windward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. It also shows parts of Guatemala and the Isthmus of Panama. Various towns, cities, rivers, mountains, islands and several other topographical details are noted with relief shown by hachure. Black's map also identifies the Mosquito Gulf or the Bay of Mosquitoes, a corruption of Moskito, a local indigenous tribe. An inset near the bottom margin features Jamaica in detail. Undersea features as the Florida Reef, Pedro Bank and the Cay Sal Bank area also noted. This map was engraved by Sidney Hall and issued as plate no. L in the 1844 edition of Black's General Atlas.

CartographerS


Charles and Adam Black (fl. 1807 - present) were map and book publishers based in Edinburgh. Charles and his uncle, Adam, both of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded their publishing firm in 1807. They published a series of maps and atlases throughout the 19th century. In addition to an array of atlases, the Black firm is known for their editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica (1817 - 1826) and the first publishing of Sir Walter Scott's novels in 1854. In 1889 the A. & C. Black publishing house moved to London where it remains in operation to this day. More by this mapmaker...


Sidney Hall (1788 - 1831) was an English engraver and map publisher active in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His earliest imprints, dating to about 1814, suggest a partnership with Michael Thomson, another prominent English map engraver. Hall engraved for most of the prominent London map publishers of his day, including Aaron Arrowsmith, William Faden, William Harwood, and John Thomson, among others. Hall is credited as being one of the earliest adopters of steel plate engraving, a technique that allowed for finer detail and larger print runs due to the exceptional hardness of the medium. Upon his early death - he was only in his 40s - Hall's business was inherited by his wife, Selina Hall, who continued to publish under the imprint, "S. Hall", presumably for continuity. The business eventually passed to Sidney and Selina's nephew Edward Weller, who became extremely prominent in his own right. Learn More...

Source


Black, A. and C., Black's General Atlas (Edinburgh), 1844.     Black's General Atlas was a popular Scottish atlas of the world issued by the Edinburgh firm of Adam and Charles Black. This atlas was first issued in 1840 with subsequent editions being printed well into the 1890s. While most editions were printed in Edinburgh, an American edition was issued in 1857. Most early editions of his atlas were engraved by S. Hall. Typically this refers to Sidney Hall, who died in 1831, but in this case, since the engraving was initiated well after his death, it was most likely his widow, Selina Hall, who did the engraving. Later editions feature additional maps updated and engraved by William Hughes. Early editions featured outline color only, but later editions embraced a full color approach with pale green, yellow, and blue pastels. All editions are known for their meticulous presentation of the most up-to-date cartographic information. Moreover, this exceptionally long publication run provides a fine cartographic record of the middle to late 19th century - particularly as regards the complex cartographic evolution of the Americas through this period.

Condition


Very good. Original platemark visible. Blank on verso.

References


Rumsey 2305.060 (1854 edition). Philips (atlases) 4334.