Original antique map engraved by John Cary in 1803 and published in his 'New Universal Atlas' in 1808. With original hand colouring.
The map provides a detailed view of the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Central America, and the northern coast of South America.
John Cary was renowned for his precision and elegance as an engraver. This specific map is noted for its accuracy and interesting historical details.
The map shows the Gulf of Mexico area pre the Louisiana Purchase. Although the treaty was signed in April 1803 and officially announced in the US on July 4, 1803, this physical map depicts Louisiana as it was immediately before the sale.
Florida is shown divided into East and West Florida, reflecting the geopolitical tensions of the time. It includes a note in the "Cenis" country (modern-day Texas) marking the site where the explorer La Salle was murdered in 1687. Numerous Native American tribes are named across the southeastern United States.
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.
