Ameri[c]an Atlas

About this Paged Content

Uncovering the Hidden History of the Ameri[c]an Atlas: The digital publication of this atlas started with a mystery: the volume sat on the shelves of Lehigh University Libraries' special collections, with its irregular title Amerian [sic] Atlas tantalizing users but providing little information about the text's origins. Lehigh University's own archives provided no additional clues about where it came from; the records only showed that the university acquired it in the 1880s. Without the requisite bibliographic information, the atlas hadn't even been entered into the online catalog. Who purchased these maps, all sold individually by both London and American sellers, and had them bound into a single volume complete with a handwritten table of contents? When was it assembled between its pasteboard covers? Who had it bound so carefully, but not carefully enough to avoid the misspelling ("Amerian") on the leather spine? It is with these questions in mind that Lehigh University Archivist Lois Black and I began our investigation. Through research into maps of the Revolutionary War, comparison with similar atlases, and discussions with map historians Matthew Edney and Joel Kovarsky, I confirmed that Lehigh University's Ameri[c]an Atlas consists of maps belonging to the famed late-eighteenth-century British mapseller, cartographer, and Geographer to the King, William Faden. Faden, who had taken over the business of the first Geographer to the King, Thomas Jefferys, had an extensive catalogue of maps including "33 maps and battle plans" of the Revolutionary War in North America.[1] Lehigh University's Ameri[c]an Atlas consists of nineteen of these maps, with one duplicate. These nineteen, dated from 1759-1777, feature British colonies and Revolutionary War military movements in North America with a geographic focus on what is now the northeastern United States. Identifying the individual component maps proved to be the easiest task, especially given the ample documentation of Faden's individual maps. However, many questions remain about the maps as a collection, that is, as an atlas. If it is certain that all of the maps in the Ameri[c]an Atlas are part of Faden's catalogue, what is unknown is whether or not Faden bound them together and then sold them, perhaps at some individual's request. In addition to producing proper atlases, Faden made a business of compiling atlases to order. He would put together maps from his catalog with a handwritten or printed table of contents and bind this individual collection together for sale. The atlases put together on demand by Faden may share many of the same maps and characteristics – but each is, by definition, unique. While it is known that Faden did compile atlases to order, these atlases have not been studied or compared. By bringing Lehigh's Ameri[c]an Atlas online, we hope to give scholars an opportunity to study the variants of Faden's made-to-order atlases.

Full Title

Ameri[c]an Atlas

Member of

Rare Books

Contributor(s)

Creator: Faden, William, 1749-1836

Contributor: Andrews, John

Contributor: Jefferys, Thomas, -1771

Contributor: Blaskowitz, Charles

Contributor: Montrésor, John, 1736-1799

Contributor: Brasier, William

Contributor: Sauthier, Claude Joseph

Date Issued

1759 to 1777

Table of Contents

1. General North America North Part 2. A New Map of the British Colonies in North America, Showing the Seat of the present Wat, taken from the best surveys, compared with and improved from Manuscripts of Several Noblemen and Gentlement. By John Andrews 3. A New Map of the Province of Quebec, according to the Royal Proclamation of the 7th of October 1765, from the French Surveys connected with those made after the War by Captain Carver and other Officers in His Majesty's Service. 4. A Plan of Quebec 5. An Exact Chart of the River St. Laurence from Fort Frontenac to the Island of Anticosti showing the Soundings, Rocks, Shoals &c with Views of the Lands and all Necessary Instructions for navigating that Eiver to Quebec 6. A Chart of the Gulf of St. Laurence, Composed From a Great Number of Actual Surveys and Other Materials, Regulated and Connected by Astronomical Observations. 7. A General Chart of the Island of Newfoundland with the Rocks & Soundings. Drawn from Surveys taken by Order of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty by Hames Cook and Michael Lane Surveyors and Others. 8. A Topographical Chart of the Bay of Narraganset in the Province of New England with all the Isles contained therein, among which Rhode Island and Connonicut have been particularly Surveyed. Shewing the true psition & bearings of the Banks, Shoals, Rocks &c as likewise the Soundings: To which have been added the several Works & Batteries raised by the Americans. Taken by Order of the Principal Farmers on Rhode Island. 9. A Plan of the Town of Newport in Rhode Island. Surveyed by Charles Blaskowitz 10. A Plan of Boston and its Environs, shewing the true situation of His Majesty's Army. And also those of the Revels. Drawn by an Engineer at Boston. Octr. 1775. 11. A Map of the Province of New York with Part of Pensilvania and New England From an Actual Survey by Captain Montresor, Engineer, 1775. 12. Map of the Province of New York 12 Newfoundland. A General Chart of the Island of Newfoundland with the Rocks & Soundings. Drawn from Surveys taken by Order of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty by Hames Cook and Michael Lane Surveyors and Others. 13. A Survey of Lake Champlain, including Lake George, Crown Point and St. John. Surveyed by Order of His Excellency Major General Sr. Jeffery Amherst, Knight of the most Honble. Order of the Bath, Commander in Chief of His Majesty;s Forces in North America, (now Lord Amherst) 14. A Plan of the Operations of the King's Army under the Command of General Sr. William Howe, K.B. in New York and East New Jersey against the American Forces Commanded by General Washingon, From the 12th of October to the 28th of November 1776. Wherein is particularly distinguished the Engagement of the White Plains the 28th of October. 15. A Plan of the City of New-York & its Environs to Greenwich on the North or Hudsons River, and to Crown Point on the East or Sound River, Shewing the Several Streets, Publick Buildings, Docks, Fort & Batter, with the true Form & Course of the Commanding Grounds, with and without tje Town. Surveyed in the Winter 1775 16. A Plan of New York Island with part of Long Island, Staten Island & East New Jersey, with a particular Description of the Engagment on the Woody Heights of lOng Island, betweem Flatbush and Brooklyn , on the 27th of August 1776 between His Majesty's Forces Commanded by General Howe and the Americans under Major General Putnam, Shewing also the Landing of the British Army on New-York Island, and the Taking of the City of New-York & on the 15th of September following with the Subsequent Disposition of Both the Armies. 17. A Map of Pennsylvania Exhibiting not only the Improved Parts of that Province, but also its Extensive Frontiers: Laid down From Actual Surveys, and Chiefly From the Late Map of W. Scull Published in 1770; And Humbly Inscribed to the Honourable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esquires True and Absolute Proprietaries & Governors of the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging. 18. A Plan of the City and Environs of Philadelphia Survey'd by N. Scull and G. Heap. Engraved by Willm. Faden 1777 19. A Plan of the City of Philadelphia, the Capital of Pennsylvania, from an Actual Survey by Benjamin Easburn, Surveyer General; 1776. 20. A Chart of Delaware Bay and River, Containing a fill and exact description of the Shores, Creeks, Harbours, Soundings, Shoals, Sands and Bearings of the most considerable Land Marks, from the Capes to Philadelphia. Taken from the Original Chart Published at Philadelphia by Joshua Fisher.

Language

English

Type

cartographic

Genre

atlases

Form

books

Subject (Geographic)

New York (N.Y.)

Saint Lawrence River

Saint Lawrence, Gulf of