Original antique map by Herman Moll, published in 1739 in Salmon's "Modern History"
Herman Moll moved to England from either Holland or Germany in 1678. His early maps were influenced by John Speed and Emanuel Bowen but ten years after his move to London he opened his first shop at Blackfriars in 1688.
The early years were spent working for other publishers, but in 1701 he published his first work "A System of Geography". Between 1711 and 1717 he published 'Atlas Geographis' in monthly parts, which would eventually comprise 5 volumes.
Moll latter produced detailed maps of North America which were designed to assist in the growth of British influence on the continent. His maps were used by both France and Britain but the cartography and labelling was designed to aid Britain gain territory.
"Salmon's Modern History" refers to Thomas Salmon's influential 18th-century work, Modern History: or, the Present State of all Nations, a comprehensive geographical and historical text covering world cultures, politics, and natural sciences, published in multiple editions from the 1720s to 1739, featuring maps by Herman Moll and becoming a key resource on the known world, highlighting the expansion of knowledge during the Enlightenment.
Salmon was an English historical and geographical writer, known for his extensive travels and detailed accounts.
His "Modern History" aimed to be the most complete system of geography and modern history, describing nations' situations, people, customs, laws, arts, and natural world.
It first appeared in the 1720s, with a major three-volume quarto edition published in 1739. It was heavily illustrated with numerous engraved plates and maps, notably by cartographer Herman Moll, depicting the world as it was being discovered and captured the spirit of the Enlightenment by documenting a rapidly expanding world, becoming a vital text for scholars and the public.
In essence, Salmon's "Modern History" is a landmark work of 18th-century encyclopedic knowledge, offering insights into global cultures and geography through a richly illustrated compilation of facts and observations.
