London: Printed and sold by R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1778.. Twenty-three engraved maps on thirty sheets, handcolored in outline. Folio, 21 3/4 x 15... More

London: Printed and sold by R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1778.. Twenty-three engraved maps on thirty sheets, handcolored in outline. Folio, 21 3/4 x 15 1/2. Expertly bound to style in 18th-century half russia over original marbled paper boards, spine gilt in seven compartments with raised bands, red morocco lettering piece. In a black morocco backed box, lettered in gilt. Provenance: Henry Tomkinson (armorial bookplate). In a half morocco box. The very rare 1778 issue of THE AMERICAN ATLAS, the most important 18th-century atlas for America, and an irreplaceable snapshot of the land as it was during the birth of the United States. Walter Ristow characterizes it as a "geographical description of the whole continent of America, as portrayed in the best available maps in the latter half of the eighteenth century...as a major cartographic reference work it was, very likely, consulted by American, English, and French civilian administrators and military officers during the Revolution." As a collection, THE AMERICAN ATLAS stands as the most comprehensive, detailed, and accurate survey of the American colonies at the beginning of the Revolution. Many of the elements that make up THE AMERICAN ATLAS came into being as a result of the British need to understand the geographic and social layout of their colonies after their victory in the French and Indian War of 1756-63. The maps that resulted from the numerous surveys proved to be by far the best contemporary records of the region. Among these distinguished maps are Braddock Meade's "A Map of the Most Inhabited Parts of New England," the largest and most detailed map of New England that had yet been published; a map of "The Provinces of New York and New Jersey" by Samuel Holland, the surveyor general for the northern American colonies; William Scull's "A Map of Pennsylvania," the first map of that colony to include its western frontier; Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson's "A Map of the Most Inhabited part of Virginia," the best colonial map for the Chesapeake region; and Lieut. Ross' "Course of the Mississipi," the first map of that river based on British sources. Jefferys was the leading British cartographer of the 18th century. From about 1750 he published a series of maps of the British American colonies. As geographer to the Prince of Wales, and after 1761, geographer to the King, Jefferys was well placed to have access to the best surveys conducted in America, and many of his maps held the status of "official work." Jefferys died on Nov. 20, 1771, and in 1775 his successors, Robert Sayer and John Bennett, gathered these separately issued maps together and republished them in book form as THE AMERICAN ATLAS. The first edition with only twenty-two maps on twenty- nine sheets appeared in 1775, and there were subsequent editions in 1776 and 1778. The maps are as follow (many of the maps are on several sheets, and in the Index each individual sheet is numbered; the measurements refer to the image size): 1-3) Braddock Meade (alias John Green): "A Chart of North and South America, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Published 10 June 1775." Six sheets joined into three, 43 1/2 x 49 1/2 inches. This great wall map of the Western Hemisphere was chiefly issued to expose the errors in Delisle and Buache's map of the Pacific Northwest, published in Paris in 1752. STEVENS & TREE 4(d). 4) Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg: "The Russian Discoveries. Published March 2nd 1775." One sheet, 18 x 24 1/8 inches. The first official mapping results of the explorations of Bering and Chirikof in Siberia and the Pacific Northwest were issued by the Russian Imperial Academy in 1758. These corrected the earlier incorrect maps including the mythical discoveries of Admiral Fonte. This is a British version of that map. 5-6) Thomas Pownall after E. Bowen: "A New and Correct Map of North America, with the West India Islands. Published 15 February 1777." Four sheets joined into two, 45 1/4 inches. Thomas Pownall updated Bowen's North America map of 1755. Pownall's version included the results of the first Treaty of Paris drawn up after the end of the French and Indian War. STEVENS & TREE 49(f). 7) Thomas Jefferys: "North America from the French of Mr. D'Anville, Improved with the English Surveys Made since the Peace. Published 10 June 1775." One sheet, 18 x 20 inches. STEVENS & TREE 51(c). 8) Samuel Dunn: "A Map of the British Empire in North America. Published 17 August 1776." Half sheet, 18 3/4 x 12 inches. STEVENS & TREE 53(b). 9) Thomas Jefferys: "An Exact Chart of the River St. Laurence from Fort Frontenac to the Island of Anticosti...Published 25 May 1775." Two sheets joined into one, 23 1/2 x 37 inches. STEVENS & TREE 76(d). 10) Sayer & Bennett: "A Chart of the Gulf of St. Laurence...Published 25th March 1775." One sheet, 19 1/2 x 24 inches. 11) "A Map of the Island of St. John in the Gulf of St. Laurence...Published 6 April 1775." One sheet, 15 x 27 1/4 inches. 12) James Cook and Michael Lane: "A General Chart of the Island of Newfoundland...Published 10th May 1775." One sheet, 21 1/2 x 22 inches. James Cook went on to gain renown for his Pacific exploration. 13) "A Chart of the Banks of Newfoundland...Published 25 March 1775." One sheet, 19 1/2 x 26 inches. Based on the surveys of James Cook (see above), Chabert, and Fleurieu. 14) Thomas Jefferys: "A New Map of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island with the Adjacent Parts of New England and Canada...Published 15 June 1775." One sheet, 18 1/2 x 24 inches. Originally published in 1755, at the beginning of the French and Indian War, this map "proved to be important in evaluating respective French and British claims to this part of North America" (Ristow). England gained sole possession of the region by the Treaty of Paris, 1763. STEVENS & TREE 66(c). 15-16) Braddock Meade (alias John Green): "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of New England. Published November 29, 1774." Four sheets joined into two, 38 3/4 x 40 3/4 inches. The first large-scale map of New England. "The most detailed and informative pre-Revolutionary map of New England...not really supplanted until the nineteenth century" (NEW ENGLAND PROSPECT 13). STEVENS & TREE 33(e). 17) Capt. [Samuel] Holland: "The Provinces of New York and New Jersey, with Part of Pensilvania...Published 17 Aug. 1776." Three insets: "A plan of the City of New York," "A chart of the Mouth of Hudson's River," and "A Plan of Amboy." Two sheets joined, 26 1/2 x 52 3/4 inches. An important large-scale map of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey, by Samuel Holland, surveyor general for the Northern English colonies. With fine insets including a street plan of colonial New York City. STEVENS & TREE 44(d). 18) William Brassier: "A Survey of Lake Champlain, including Lake George, Crown Point and St. John. 5 August 1776." Single sheet, 26 3/4 x 18 3/4 inches. Second state including naval activity on the lake up until Oct. 13, 1776. STEVENS & TREE 25(b). 19) "A New Map of the Province of Quebec, according to the Royal Proclamation, of the 7th of October 1763. From the French Surveys Connected with those made after the War, by Captain Carver, and Other Officers. 16 February 1776." One sheet, 19 1/4 x 26 1/4 inches. STEVENS & TREE 73(a). 20) William Scull: "A Map of Pennsylvania Exhibiting not only the Improved Parts of the Province but also its Extensive Frontiers. Published 10 June 1775." Two sheets joined, 27 x 51 1/2 inches. The first map of the Province of Pennsylvania to include its western frontier. All earlier maps had focused solely on the settled eastern parts of the colony. 21-22) Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson: "A Map of the Most Inhabited Part of Virginia, containing the Whole Province of Maryland...1775." [nd]. Four sheets joined into two, 32 x 48 inches. "The basic cartographical document of Virginia in the eighteenth century...the first to depict accurately the interior regions of Virginia beyond the Tidewater. [It] dominated the cartographical representation of Virginia until the nineteenth century" - Verner. STEVENS & TREE 87(f). 23-24) Henry Mouzon: "An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina with their Indian Frontiers. Published May 30, 1775." Four sheets joined into two, 40 x 54 inches. "The chief type map for [the Carolinas] during the forty or fifty years following its publication. It was used by both British and American forces during the Revolutionary War" - Cumming. STEVENS & TREE 11(a). CUMMING 450. 25) Thomas Jefferys: "The Coast of West Florida and Louisiana...The Peninsula and Gulf of Florida. Published 20 Feby. 1775." Two sheets joined into one, 19 1/2 x 48 inches. Stevens & Tree 26(b). A large-scale map of Florida, based upon the extensive surveys conducted since the region became a British possession by the Treaty of Paris, 1763. 26) Lieut. Ross: "Course of the Mississipi...Taken on an Expedition to the Illinois, in the latter end of the Year 1765. Published 1 June 1775." Two sheets joined into one, 14 x 44 inches. The first large- scale map of the Mississippi River, and the first based in whole or part upon British surveys. STEVENS & TREE 31(b). 27) Thomas Jefferys: "The Bay of Honduras. Published 20 February 1775." One sheet, 18 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches. 28-29) J.B.B. D'Anville: "A Map of South America...Published 20 September 1775." Four sheets joined into two, 20 x 46 inches. 30) Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla and others: "A Chart of the Straits of Magellan. Published 1 July 1775." One sheet, 20 1/2 x 27 inches. HOWES J81, "b." PHILLIPS ATLASES 1165, 1166. SABIN 35953. STREETER SALE 72 (1775 ed). Walter Ristow (editor), THOMAS JEFFERYS The American Atlas LONDON 1776, facsimile edition (Amsterdam 1974). Less

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New York: Charles Scribners. 1925.. First edition, first printing with "chatter" on p. 60, line 16, "northern" on p. 119, line 22, "it's" on p.... More

New York: Charles Scribners. 1925.. First edition, first printing with "chatter" on p. 60, line 16, "northern" on p. 119, line 22, "it's" on p. 165, line 16, "away" on p. 165, line 29, "sick in tired" on p. 205, lines 9-10, and "Union Street station" on p. 211, lines 7-8. Octavo, original dark green cloth. A very fine copy in a very good first issue dust jacket, with lowercase "j" in "jay Gatsby" on the back panel, hand-corrected in ink. The dust jacket has had some restoration to the folds, tape removed and some tears repaired that include expert recoloring to portions to the upper and lower spine. An excellent copy, extremely rare in the original dust jacket. The dust jacket is not only one of the most recognizable and iconic book covers of the twentieth century, but it is also one of the most rare. The cover art was entitled "Celestial Eyes" and was designed by artist Francis Cugat, who was not well-known at the time. Fitzgerald, however, fell in love with the design and actually wrote a number of things into the novel to relate it to the proposed cover. Housed in a custom quarter morocco box.. Less

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On Board the Bonhomme Richard at L'Orient, France. June 14, 1779.. [1]p. manuscript letter on a folded folio sheet. Docketed on the fourth page and... More

On Board the Bonhomme Richard at L'Orient, France. June 14, 1779.. [1]p. manuscript letter on a folded folio sheet. Docketed on the fourth page and addressed in Jones's hand to "Captain M[atthew] Parke of the Marine troops." Sheet strengthened around the edges, closed tear mended in the second sheet. Very good. In a half morocco and cloth folding box, spine gilt. A very interesting manuscript letter, signed by Captain John Paul Jones as commander the American squadron off the coast of Europe, ordering Matthew Parke, a member of the Marine troops, to attend a court martial on board his ship, the Bonhomme Richard. Jones would gain everlasting fame and glory just a few weeks after he signed this letter, when he captured the HMS Serapis in the North Sea. In 1779 John Paul Jones took command of a 900-ton French East Indiaman, armed and renamed Bonhomme Richard as a compliment to his patron, Benjamin Franklin. The outfitting of the ship in the port of L'Orient consumed several months, and it was not ready for sea until June. The ship's crew was originally formed of prisoners taken from English ships by the French. Evidently, a group of these prisoner-sailors conspired to capture the ship, and Jones ordered their court martial to take place on June 15 on board the Bonhomme Richard. The manuscript text, signed by Jones in his own hand at the end, reads: "By the Honble. John P. Jones Captain in the American Navy and Commander in Chief of the American Squadron now in Europe. Sir you are hereby required and directed to attend at a Court Martial to be held on board the Bon homme [sic] Richard tomorrow for the Trial of James Enion, John Atwood, John Lomney, John Balch, John Layton, Andrew Thompson, George Johnston, William Carmichael, Alexander Cooper, William Hanover, Thomas Cole and Nathaniel Bonner - all of whom have been put under confinement by Lieutenant John Brown for mutinous behaviour and for refusing to do their duty on board the American ship of war the Bon homme Richard. You are also to try any other person or persons belonging to the American service who may in the course of the evidence appear to have been principally concerned in that mutiny - for which this shall be your order. Given on board the Bon homme Richard at L'Orient the 14th day of June 1779." Along with the letter, laid into a compartment in the box, is a commemorative medal, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches, with a portrait on the recto of Jones after the bust by Houdon, and an allegorical scene on the verso entitled "America claims her illustrious dead - Paris Annapolis 1905." The medal was issued to commemorate the exhumation and re- burial of Jones's body from beneath the streets of Paris to its final resting place in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1905. Any substantive, Revolutionary-era John Paul Jones letters or manuscripts are extremely rare in the market. This is an especially interesting and displayable artifact of Jones' tenure as commander of the Bonhomme Richard, with several references to the ship, where he earned his greatest fame during the Revolution. Less

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