Composite: South America / Kitchin, Thomas / 1787

Composite: South America Kitchin, Thomas, 1787

Composite: South America / Kitchin, Thomas / 1787

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Full Title: (Composite of) A map of South America, containing Tierra-Firma, Guyana, New Granada, Amazonia, Brasil, Peru, Paraguay, Chaco, Tucuman, Chili and Patagonia. From Mr. d'Anville with several improvements and additions, and the newest discoveries. London, printed for Robert Sayer, no. 53 Fleet Street, as the Act directs, July the 1st 1787.

Author: Kitchin, Thomas

Date: 1787

This map is based on the map of South America by D'Anville, one of the finest French map makers of the 18th century. It shows many new discoveries by explorers along the coast lines. In the lower left corner is a box of text describing the political and geographic features of the continent. The map was published as a wall map and in A General Atlas Describing the Whole Universe compiled by Thomas Kitchin, a prominent map publisher in London in the late 18th century.

This historical cartographic image is part of the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, www.davidrumsey.com, a large collection of online antique, rare, old, and historical maps, atlases, globes, charts, and other cartographic items. Read more about the Collection. Or you can view the entire David Rumsey Map Collection in Insight.

Note: Engraved map in outline color. Printed on 4 sheets. Relief shown pictorially; depths by soundings. Inset map at [ca. 1:2,000,000]: A chart of the Falkland's Islands, named by the French Malouine Islands, and discovered by Hawkins in the year 1595. Includes descriptive notes and text "Division of South America with a summary account of its trade," and large ornamental cartouche. Prime meridian: Ferro. David Rumsey Collection copy mounted as 2 sheets. (W 103--W 20/N 13--S 56)

Published In: A general atlas, describing the whole universe: being a complete collection of the most approved maps extant; corrected with the greatest care, and augmented from the latest discoveries. The whole being an improvement of the maps of D'Anville and Robert. Engraved in the best manner on sixty-two copper-plates, by Thomas Kitchin, Senior, and Others. London: printed For Robert Sayer, no. 53, Fleet-Street, (1790).

Publication Note: Late issue. Many of the maps are double sheet. This atlas was later expanded to become the New Universal Atlas (see David Rumsey Collection copy). Some of these maps also appeared in the American Atlas by Jefferys. There are actually 23 large maps, on 35 connected sheets, produced from 62 copper plates. Maps are hand painted with outline and full color and bound in half leather tan marbled paper covered boards with "General Atlas" stamped in gold on the spine. Inscription inside front cover in pen-and-ink: R. Sayer pub, 53 Fleet ... 8th, 1791 ...

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