COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Wilkinson, Robert
Date:
1804
Short Title:
North America.
Publisher:
Robert Wilkinson
Publisher Location:
London
Type:
Separate Map
Obj Height cm:
52
Obj Width cm:
61
Scale 1:
8,870,400
Note:
First edition. Full color. This beautiful, rare map is the first to show the entire Louisiana Territory as part of the United States, both in the delineated boundaries on the map and in the table showing the possessions of the United States: "Province, Ceded by France 30 Apr. 1803, Louisiana." The Bradley "Map of The United States..." of June 2nd, 1804, is the first map to mention the event: ôThe French call the country West of Conecuh River Louisiana & have ceded it to the United States," but the Bradley map shows only a small portion of Louisiana Territory just west of the Mississippi River. Wilkinson follows Arrowsmith's geography (from his "New Discoveries..." map of 1802) in the Rocky Mountain and the Oregon River areas, but adds new settlements and place names not on Arrowsmith's map along the northwest coast. Franklinia is shown between Tennessee and North Carolina. Wheat trashes the 1824 issue (which is unchanged from the 1804) as hopelessly out of date, but this 1804 issue was not seen by Wheat and is very accurate and forward looking for its period. The large folio General Atlas that this map appeared in is elusive: it is not listed in any references (Phillips lists only Wilkinson's smaller General Atlas issues, even though he refers to one or two issues as folio in size). Wilkinson mentions publishing it in parts, with eleven maps completed by 1808 and thirty five completed by 1823 (noted on the index pages of his quarto General and Classical Atlases of those dates). It seems to be as scarce as this North America map.
Reference:
Stevens & Tree 62(a); Wheat, C.I. Mapping the transmississippi West, 357 (1824 edition); Streeter 3793.
World Area:
North America
Full Title:
North America, published the 12th of August 1804. By R. Wilkinson, No.58, Cornhill, London. E. Bourne Sculp.
List No:
5156.000
Series No:
1
Engraver or Printer:
Bourne, Ebenezer
Publication Author:
Wilkinson, Robert
Pub Date:
1804
Pub Title:
North America, published the 12th of August 1804. By R. Wilkinson, No.58, Cornhill, London. E. Bourne Sculp.
Pub Reference:
Stevens & Tree 62(a); Wheat, C.I. Mapping the transmississippi West, 357 (1824 edition); Streeter 3793.
Pub Note:
See note field above.
Pub List No:
5156.000
Pub Type:
Separate Map
Pub Maps:
1
Pub Height cm:
52
Pub Width cm:
61
Image No:
5156000
Authors:
Wilkinson, Robert
Collection:
Rumsey Collection
Link To Source
North America.
