Original antique map created by John Cary (ca. 1754–1835), who is widely regarded as one of the most accurate, able, and prolific English mapmakers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
It was first issued individually on 1 August 1801 from Cary’s shop at No. 181, Strand, London and was later included as Plate 33 in his monumental work, Cary's New Universal Atlas (published in 1808 and 1811).
This map is from the Atlas edition. The colouring is original.
Typical of Cary's signature style, the copperplate engraving features exceptionally clean lettering, fine line work, and an elegant layout. It features bright, hand-coloured outline boundaries to distinguish different administrative and historical provinces.
The map covers the entirety of Scandinavia, focusing on the kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It also comprehensively includes Finland, which at the time of production in 1801 was still an integral part of the Swedish Kingdom.
It showcases detailed road networks, mountain ranges (drawn pictorially), river systems, coastal islands, lakes, and prominent towns across the Baltic and North Sea regions.
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.
