December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
REVOLUTIONARY WAR THOMAS JEFFERYS 1774 MAP OF NEW ENGLAND LINEN CLOTH MOUNT.
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This is a scarce 1774 dated map of New England mounted on card stock and linen at the time for convenient folding by panels measuring about 6" by 10" and carry in a pocket or folio. The user added period brown ink title inscriptions on the reverse of the linen so as to appear on the front and back when folded into book form, reading "New England" on both sides, with addition of his intials "W.H.C." on one side. The map includes panels showing a plan of Boston Harbor "from an accurate survey" at lower right and a plan of the town of Boston at upper left, showing the layout of streets, etc. Both are telling inclusions given the revolutionary ferment taking place in the town at the time, with open warfare to break out in 1775. The title cartouche at lower right reads, "A Map of the most inhabited part New England containing the provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire with the colonies of Conecticut [sic] and Rhode Island divided into counties and townships: the whole composed from actual surveys and its situation adjusted by astronomical observations." Below this is a vignette of pilgrims landing beside a rock reading "Plymouth / MDCXX" and being welcomed by an Indian and a woman attired as Columbia or Liberty with a hat on a pole looking suspiciously like a Liberty cap, which took on rather special significance in Boston starting in the 1760s. The map shows some coloring and covers part of New York west of the Hudson, including the Mohawk River and Sir William Johnson's hall. The maker's address line at the lower right border reads, "November 29th, 1774. Published according to act by Thos. Jefferys Geographer to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales near Charing Cross." CONDITION: Very good as mounted for contemporary use. The are minor stains to the linen, narrow paper losses along the fold lines and one or separation lines of the linen between the panels, but the map holds together and displays very well. It is very uncommon to find a contemporary map actually used on ship or land. The map would have special significance and importance during the early stages of the war, not only the period of Lexington and Concord, the fighting on Boston Harbor Islands, Bunker Hill and the siege of the town, but extending as it does over the New York border it would be significant for British campaigns along the Hudson and into the Mohawk Valley intended to sever New England from the other colonies well into 1777 and beyond.
Item Dimensions: 10" x 6" x 1/2"
Auction closed on Friday, December 17, 2021.