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1791 Wilkinson Map of the World on the Mercator's Projection
MercatorsChart-wilkinson-1792$125.00
Title
A New Mercator's Chart Drawn from the Latest Discoveries.
1791 (dated) 11.5 x 18 in (29.21 x 45.72 cm) 1 : 86000000
1791 (dated) 11.5 x 18 in (29.21 x 45.72 cm) 1 : 86000000
Description
This is a finely detailed 1791 map of the world on a Mercator projection by Robert Wilkinson. Wilkinson's map covers the entire world with color coding by continent. The exploratory routes taken by Captain Cook are noted. In Australia, here labeled New Holland, Van Diemen's Land or Tasmania, is attached to the continental mainland. The English colony of New South Wales and the settlements at Botany Bay and Port Jackson (Sydney) are identified. The disputed sea between Japan and Korea is here identified as the Gulf of Corea. As this map predates Vancouver's explorations, the Island of Vancouver is still attached to the North American mainland.
The speculative River of the West is noted. Appearing on maps of the middle to late 18th century, this river, which supposedly let out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was believed to be a potential river passage from the interior of North America to the Pacific. Today many believe the River of the West was simply a speculative mismapping of the Columbia River.
This map was engraved by W. Harrison and issued in the 1792 edition of Robert Wilkinson's General Atlas.
The speculative River of the West is noted. Appearing on maps of the middle to late 18th century, this river, which supposedly let out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was believed to be a potential river passage from the interior of North America to the Pacific. Today many believe the River of the West was simply a speculative mismapping of the Columbia River.
This map was engraved by W. Harrison and issued in the 1792 edition of Robert Wilkinson's General Atlas.
CartographerS
Robert Wilkinson (fl. c. 1758 - 1825) was a London based map and atlas publisher active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Most of Wilkinson's maps were derived from the earlier work of John Bowles, one of the preeminent English map publishers of the 18th century. Wilkinson's acquired the Bowles map plate library following that cartographer's death in 1779. Wilkinson updated and retooled the Bowles plates over several years until, in 1794, he issued his first fully original atlas, The General Atlas of the World. This popular atlas was profitably reissued in numerous editions until about 1825 when Wilkinson died. In the course of his nearly 45 years in the map and print trade, Wilkinson issued also published numerous independently issued large format wall, case, and folding maps. Wilkinson's core cartographic corpus includes Bowen and Kitchin's Large English Atlas (1785), Speer's West Indies (1796), Atlas Classica (1797), and the General Atlas of the World (1794, 1802, and 1809), as well as independent issue maps of New Holland (1820), and North America ( 1823). Wilkinson's offices were based at no. 58 Cornhill, London form 1792 to 1816, following which he relocated to 125 Frenchurch Street, also in London, where he remained until 1823. Following his 1825 death, Wilkinson's business and map plates were acquired by William Darton, an innovative map publisher who reissued the General Atlas with his own imprint well into the 19th century. More by this mapmaker...
Thomas Conder (1747 - June 1831) was an English map engraver and bookseller active in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. From his shop at 30 Bucklersbury, London, Conder produced a large corpus of maps and charts, usually in conjunction with other publishers of his day, including Wilkinson, Moore, Kitchin, and Walpole. Unfortunately few biographical facts regarding Conder's life have survived. Thomas Conder was succeeded by his son Josiah Conder who, despite being severely blinded by smallpox, followed in his father's footsteps as a bookseller and author of some renown. Learn More...
Source
Wilkinson, R., A General Atlas being A Collection of Maps of the World and Quarters the Principal Empires, Kingdoms, etc. with their several Provinces, and other Subdivisions, Correctly Delineated, (London) 1792.
Condition
Very good. Some toning and wear along original centerfold. Original platemark visible. Minor spotting and overall toning.