Contents: General atlas. / Lucas, Fielding Jr. / 1823

Contents: General atlas. Lucas, Fielding Jr. 1823

Contents: General atlas. / Lucas, Fielding Jr. / 1823

View larger, zoomable image (turn off pop-up blocker)

Full Title: (Contents to) A General Atlas Containing Distinct Maps Of all the Known Countries in the World, Constructed from the Latest Authority. Written and Engraved by Jos. Perkins, Philadelphia. Baltimore: Published by Fielding Lucas, Jun. No. 138, Market Street. Baltimore. Entered ... by F. Lucas Jr. of the State of Maryland June 3, 1823.

Author: Lucas, Fielding Jr.

Date: 1823

Published In: A General Atlas Containing Distinct Maps Of all the Known Countries in the World, Constructed from the Latest Authority. Written and Engraved by Jos. Perkins, Philadelphia. Baltimore: Published by Fielding Lucas, Jun. No. 138, Market Street. Baltimore. Entered ... by F. Lucas Jr. of the State of Maryland June 3, 1823.

Publication Note: The first edition, first state (see our first edition, second state for comparison) of Lucas' best general atlas and the finest general atlas produced in the U.S. at that time (In asserting this we omit the Tanner and Finley American Atlases of 1823 and 1826 respectively because they were not general atlases - cartographically they may have been superior to the Lucas, but not as broad in coverage). The quality of the engraving (most of the U.S. maps were engraved by B.T. Welch, others by Young & Delker, J.V.N. Throop, Cone & Freeman, and Kneass) is superb, the detail is very fine, and the coloring is delicate and elegant. While the same Lucas drawn base maps were used in this atlas and the 1822 American Atlas by Carey and Lea (and thereby created strained relations between him and Carey and Lea), the maps in this Lucas Atlas are far superior in quality - Welch reengraved many of the maps for Lucas that Young & Delker had engraved for Carey and Lea. It is interesting to note that the Carey and Lea maps are usually earlier states of the Lucas maps. The Atlantic Islands and the West Indies Island Maps are mostly copied from Thomson's General Atlas of 1817 (see our copy) as is the Mountains and Rivers plate (reduced). Many maps are derived from the earlier Lucas Atlas of 1815-17 which copied the Oddy Atlas maps for the non U.S. state maps. Some copies have solid color. Maps of Mexico, Canada, and N. America (updated by Lucas in the arctic), are copied from Arrowsmith's General Atlas of 1823 (first ed. was 1817). The classical maps derive from Melish's Atlas of Ancient Geography of 1815. Half leather with marbled paper covered boards, thick outline color, title on spine - "Lucas's Cabinet Atlas."

Digital images and descriptive data © 2000 by Cartography Associates. Images may be reproduced or transmitted, but not for commercial use. For commercial use or commercial republication, contact This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. By downloading any images from this site, you agree to the terms of that license.

Firewalls, or Browser settings that block Pop-up Ads, may prevent correct operation of Insight Java Client or Insight Browser. Test by turning off the Firewall and/or allowing Pop-ups from this site only - if this corrects the problem, adjust your Firewall or Browser settings.

If you have comments, suggestions, or need help, contact The David Rumsey Collection at