1747 Bowen Map of North America
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Description: This is a curious little map of North America. Covers the whole North America as well as parts of Europe and South America. This is a pirated 1797 reissue of Bowen 1747 map of the same name. Wheatley seems to have stolen the map and updated it solely by scratching out Bowen’s name from the title cartouche. Nonetheless, this map is cartographically interesting with much to recommend it. Shows North America in Colonial times with a misshapen Florida and California. Lists the Apache Indians and the “Supposed Strait of Annian”. Anian is a term derived from a John Donne poem, “Anyan if I go west by the North-West passage.” However, it was interpreted as the Bering Strait by cartographers, successfully transitioning it from the realms of poetry to cartography. Anian presupposed the existence of a Northwest Passage and, as such, was entirely mythical, though the lands that are now Alaska long bore that name. Further south still we find Quivira, one of the legendary northern American Kingdoms of Gold. Much of Modern day Canada is labeled “Parts Undiscovered”. Includes the Fishing Banks off Newfoundland and offers fairly accurate details of the Caribbean. Prepared by Wheatley for D. Fenning’s 1797 issue of A New and Easy Guide to the use of Globes; and the Rudiments of Geography. .
Date: 1797 (date obscured)
Source: Fenning, Daniel, A New and Easy Guide to the use of Globes; and the Rudiments of Geography. (1797 edition)
References: New York Public Library, Map Division, 1258748. Phillips (North America), page 595.
Cartographer: Samuel Wheatley was a Dublin based engraver active in later part of the 18th century. He operated his engraving business from the shop of an ironmonger known only as "Mr. Costigan", in Salutation Alley, Dublin. His is known to have engraved maps for Faulkner's edition of Sale's Universal History and Smith's History of Waterford. He also seems to have made a map of Lough Neagh for Barton's "Lectures on Natural Philosophy. Though is described by contemporaries as an "Engraver of Note", he seems to have had no qualms about blatantly pirating the work of others. Little else is known. Click here for a list of rare maps from Samuel Wheatley.
Cartographer: Emanuel Bowen (1714-1767) had the high distinction to be named Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of England and Louis XV of France. Based in London from 1714 onwards, Bowen was highly regarded for producing some of the largest, most detailed, most accurate and most attractive maps of his era. He is known to have worked with some of the most prominent cartographic names of the period including Herman Moll, John Owen, and Thomas Kitchin. Despite his renown and success, Bowen, like many cartographers, died in poverty. Upon Emanuel Bowen's death, his cartographic work was taken over by his son, Thomas Bowen (?? - 1790) who also died in poverty. Click here for a list of rare maps from Emanuel Bowen.
Size: Printed area measures 8 x 6.25 inches (20.32 x 15.875 centimeters)
Condition: Good condition. Original folds. Age toning. Minor water stains. Contemporary color.
Code: NorthAmerica-bowen-1747 (Necessary for phone inquiries: 646-320-8650)
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