1785 Lodge Map of the Mosquito / Mosquitia (Nicaragua and Costa Rica)

This is a scarce 1785 John Lodge map of the Mosquitia or Mosquito Coast, roughly corresponding to present-day eastern Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The map was issued to illustrate the heated colonial conflict between England and Spain over the remote and inhospitable coastline.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces the Mosquitia, being the Gulf Coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, extending roughly from Puerto Lembira south to Bocas del Torro, Panama. The map is derived from a similar map of the same title surveyed by Captain Stephen Field and published in London by Mount and Page c. 1765.

In general, the Mosquitia was poorly mapped, and this map remained the best obtainable map of the region well into the 19th century. We have been able to unearth little about the Field survey, but it was probably associated with Britsh attempts to settle the coast.

Historical Context

In 1785, the Mosquitia region, located along the eastern coast of present-day Nicaragua and Honduras, became a hotspot for colonial competition between Britain and Spain. Britain had established a strong presence in Mosquitia through alliances with the indigenous Miskito Kingdom, who were staunch British allies, benefiting from British weapons, trade, and support in resisting Spanish encroachments.

In 1785, the Spanish, hoping to capitalize on British preoccupation with the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783), attempted to seize British settlements around the Black River area, Cape Gracias a Dios, and Bluefields. With their Miskito allies, the British settlers were able to drive off the Spanish raiders, but the issue remained a hot point of political contention between England and Spain.

The issue was resolved as this map was being published by the 1785-86 Convention of London. The resulting treaty between Britain and Spain called for a British withdrawal from Mosquitia in exchange for Spanish recognition of British settlements in Belize (British Honduras). Leading up to this treaty, Mosquitia was a semi-autonomous region, with the Miskito playing a delicate role, balancing their interests between the European powers. The Miskito raided Spanish settlements and aided British privateers, further complicating Spanish efforts to assert control.

While Spain nominally claimed sovereignty over Mosquitia, its control was limited by the rugged terrain, lack of infrastructure, and strong resistance from the Miskito. The region's remoteness, combined with its reliance on British support, set the stage for ongoing disputes between colonial powers and local Indigenous leaders in the decades that followed. To this day, Mosquitia remains one of the least populous and most inaccessible parts of Central America.

Publication History and Census

This map was engraved by John Lodge after surveys conducted by Captain Stephen Field. It was published in the August 1785 issue of John Murray's Political Magazine and Parliamentary, Naval, Military, and Literary Journal. Rare. We see no examples of this editon in OCLC and only a single instance of it appearing on the market (OWO, 2017).