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CAREY, Mathew (1760-1839)
Carey's General Atlas, improved and enlarged: being a collection of maps of the world and quarters, their principal empires, kingdoms, &c
Philadelphia: Published by M. Carey, 1814. Folio (17 3/8 x 11 1/2 inches). Letterpress title and 2pp. of 'prefatory remarks', 1p. certification leaf with two columns of letterpress text below a three-quarter page engraved plate made up of seven small maps. 58 engraved maps, all hand-coloured in outline (49 double-page, 1 folding). Contemporary roan-backed marbled paper-covered boards with vellum tips, the flat spine divided into five compartments by single gilt fillets (scuffed, front free endpaper creased and torn with loss), modern blue morocco-backed cloth box. Provenance: Levi Hollingsworth (signature on title); Sally A. Murray (inscription dated 1895 on title).
Third and rarest edition of Carey's "General Atlas," one of the earliest American atlases published in the United States and the "the first atlas made in the United States to employ color on the maps" (Rumsey)
Mathew Carey published the first American atlas in 1795. That atlas contained only 21 maps, so, as the title claims, the present atlas with 58 maps, really is much "improved and enlarged". This copy comes with an interesting and appropriate provenance: although there were several Levi Hollingsworths, mostly related, who were active at the start of the 19th century, the most likely owner of this work is the ardent Federalist and prosperous and distinguished merchant Levi Hollingsworth (1739-1824) of Philadelphia ( see Appleton's Cyclopedia). He served with distinction during the Revolution (and was later twice wounded during the War of 1812), suffered financial losses from furnishing supplies to the Continental Army, and undertook such special services as delivering funds for the salaries of General Montgomery's forces during their investment of Quebec. Hollingsworth corresponded with George Washington on agricultural matters and joined explorer William Clark in a Kentucky lawsuit. Such an enterprising individual would certainly have needed an accurate, up-to-date atlas of the United States, and, his political affiliations suggest that he would have particularly appreciated the fact that he was buying an all-American production.
Most of the atlas is devoted to the Americas with 33 of the 58 maps being of the region. Of the 33 the majority concern the United States and its territories, and incorporate the latest geographical knowledge available, by what was then one of the premier mapping firms in the United States. There are maps of virtually every state (including the North-Western, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana Territories) and in this edition there are five American maps which are included for the first time: map 23 'Mississippi Territory', 24 'The State of Ohio with part of Upper Canada', 25 'The upper territories of the United States', 26 'Louisiana', and 27 'Missouri Territory formerly Louisiana'. The western maps are particularly detailed, incorporating geographic information from recent explorations. The map of the whole North American continent and the excellent large detailed map of the United States and territories can lay claim to being the best available to that time. The other maps are of the West Indies, South America, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and one of "Captain Cook's Discoveries" showing a large part of the North Pacific and as far south as the Hawaiian Islands.
Wheat points out that the map of the Missouri Territory was influenced by the recent explorations of Lewis and Clark: "Lewis and Clark influence is apparent on the Upper Missouri and also along the Columbia. Missouri Territory extends west to the Pacific Coast, its probable northern and southern boundaries being shown by colored dotted lines. The northern line runs easterly from Mt. Ranier and includes most of the Columbia watershed, thence north of the Missouri drainage and including that of the Assiniboin (with its large lake), thence east to Lake of the Woods and south to the head of the Mississippi, which then forms the eastern boundary. The southern line leaves the coast just north of F.S. Francisco (whose Bay is not shown), thence easterly and slightly north of the headwaters of the Rio Grande, following south along the ridge east of that stream, southeast to the head of the Colorado (of Texas) and down that stream to the Gulf of Mexico at St. Bernardo B. The State of Louisiana (admitted 1812) appears near the mouth of the Mississippi."
Phillips Atlases 722 & 1372; cf. Sabin 10858; Shaw & Shoemaker 31087; Streeter Sale 82; Wheat Transmississippi West 315
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#20226 $27,500.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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