John Cary: A New Map of Part of the United States of North America exhibiting the Western Territory, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia & c. Also the Lakes Superior Michigan Huron Ontario and Erie with Upper and Lower Canada
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Cartographer:
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John Cary
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Title:
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A New Map of Part of the United States of North America exhibiting the Western Territory, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia & c. Also the Lakes Superior Michigan Huron Ontario and Erie with Upper and Lower Canada
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Date:
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1805
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Published:
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London
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Width:
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21 inches / 54 cm
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Height:
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19 inches / 49 cm
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Map ref:
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USA9035
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Description:
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Fascinating map concentrating on the largely un-explored Western Territory in North America, which comprises the modern day Mid-West. It captures a short lived period in the history of the United States just before the establishment Ohio, Illinois and Michigan in 1805. Original hand colour.
There are several features of particular geographical note on this piece. It shows the routes and battles of the Northwest Indian War (1785 – 1795) also known as the “Ohio War” - the United States forces led by General Anthony Wayne and the notorious traitor, General James Wilkinson.
It also marks the newly created border negotiated with the Native American tribes after their defeat in 1795. During the discussions leading up to Illinois' admission to the Union, the proposed northern boundary of the state was moved twice. The original provisions of the Northwest Ordinance had specified a boundary that would have been tangent to the southern tip of Lake Michigan – leaving Illinois with no shoreline on Lake Michigan and subsequently no access to water and trade. This border was edited (1818) to line up with the 42nd parallel (north).
Although at this time there are few settlements in this region with the exception of several forts, its importance lay in a different field which is mentioned below. As such, Cary takes great care in detailing this region with as much information as possible.
There is great detail on the environmental condition of the Great Lakes including such comments as “Length as Estimated by D.W. Smyth Esq. 260 miles circumference 845 miles” on Lake Michigan. However, the most important in feature on this piece is the marking of various portage points; or places where fur trappers had to take their canoes over land before embarking on their epic journeys to the Gulf Coast and ships waiting to take their precious cargo to the hungry markets of Europe. It is most unusual to see these marked and the importance of this trade is one of the major reasons why President Washington was willing to embark to a war only two years after the official ending of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
Although well into the period when maps were regarded as purely scientific documents, the map still manages to convey a severe beauty due to the quality of its engraving and its full original colour. It was published by Cary for release in his New Universal Atlas (1808).
Original hand colour. [USA9035] |