Original antique map engraved in 1804 by John Cary and published in his New Universal Atlas in 1808.
This map is known for its minimalist design and high level of detail for the period.
It meticulously marks major pilgrimage routes to Mecca, desert wells, oases, and the path of the frigate La Venus, which explored the Red Sea and Persian Gulf before disappearing in 1788.
The map includes historical notations, such as the site of a 1520 Portuguese embassy in Ethiopia and areas like the "Myrrh and Incense Country".
While focused on the Arabian Peninsula, it provides extensive coverage of Northeast Africa (Egypt and Abyssinia/Ethiopia) and parts of the Middle East, including Baghdad and Persepolis.
John Cary (1755–1835), was a prominent British cartographer and engraver. He published a wide range of highly accurate copper-engraved maps that became industry standards for their clean, un-ornamented style. These 1804 editions were largely prepared for his comprehensive New Universal Atlas, which was eventually issued in full in 1808.
Cary served his apprenticeship as an engraver in London, before setting up his own business in the Strand in 1783. He soon gained a reputation for his maps and globes. He published 'The New and Correct English Atlas' in 1787, which soon became a standard reference work in England.
In 1794 Cary was commissioned by the Postmaster General to survey England's roads. This resulted in Cary's 'New Itinerary', published in 1798, containing maps of all the major roads in England and Wales. He also produced Ordnance Survey maps prior to 1805.
Cary's New Universal Atlas, is a landmark of early 19th-century map making. It represented a shift from the decorative, artistic maps of the 18th century toward a more modern, scientific approach prioritising clarity, accuracy, and meticulous detail.
The 1808 edition featured 56 hand-coloured, engraved maps covering all major states and kingdoms worldwide, including highly detailed maps of England and Wales.
Cary replaced the "quaintness and charm" of older maps with a scientific rationality, using the latest surveying techniques to establish a standard that later influenced the Ordnance Survey.
The atlas was so popular it was reissued at least seven times over the next 30 years.
