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Details 1814 Thomson Map of the West Indies and Central America
1814 (undated) $600.00

1814 Thomson Map of the West Indies and Central America

WestIndies-thomson-1814
$325.00
West Indies. - Main View
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1814 Thomson Map of the West Indies and Central America

WestIndies-thomson-1814

A rarely seen first state first edition of this important map.

Title


West Indies.
  1814 (undated)     20.5 x 24.5 in (52.07 x 62.23 cm)     1 : 8000000

Description


This is a fascinating 1814 map of the West Indies and Central America by the Edinburgh cartographer John Thomson. It covers from the Carolinas south through Texas, Mexico and Central America to the northern part of South America as well as Venezuela and the Orinoco Delta. It includes all of the West Indies islands including the Caribbean and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Extraordinarily details with notations on both physical and political features, as well as undersea elements, banks, and shoals. Several American Indian tribes in both North and South America are noted. This map's magnificent size, beautiful color, and high detail make this one of the finest maps of this region to appear in the early 19th century.

Cartographer


John Thomson (1777 - c. 1841) was a Scottish cartographer, publisher, and bookbinder active in Edinburgh during the early part of the 19th century. Thomson apprenticed under Edinburgh bookbinder Robert Alison. After his apprenticeship, he briefly went into business with Abraham Thomson. Later, the two parted ways, John Thomson segueing into maps and Abraham Thomson taking over the bookbinding portion of the business. Thomson is generally one of the leading publishers in the Edinburgh school of cartography, which flourished from roughly 1800 to 1830. Thomson and his contemporaries (Pinkerton and Cary) redefined European cartography by abandoning typical 18th-century decorative elements such as elaborate title cartouches and fantastic beasts in favor of detail and accuracy. Thomson's principle works include Thomson's New General Atlas, published from 1814 to 1821, the New Classical and Historical Atlas of 1829, and his 1830 Atlas of Scotland. The Atlas of Scotland, a work of groundbreaking detail and dedication, would eventually bankrupt the Thomson firm in 1830, at which time their plates were sequestered by the court. The firm partially recovered in the subsequent year, allowing Thomson to reclaim his printing plates in 1831, but filed again for bankruptcy in 1835, at which time most of his printing plates were sold to A. K. Johnston and Company. There is some suggestion that he continued to work as a bookbinder until 1841. Today, Thomson maps are becoming increasingly rare as they are highly admired for their impressive size, vivid hand coloration, and superb detail. More by this mapmaker...

Source


Thomson, J. A New General Atlas, (Edinburgh) 1814.    

Condition


Very good. Minor toning and verso repair along original centerfold. Minor foxing throughout. Original platemark visible.