PBA Galleries

5 maps on 19 sheets, engraved, colored in outline. 66.7x53 cm (26¼x20¾"), old (original?) marbled boards, later calf spine and corners.

Atlas of the most important wall maps of the Americas at the beginning of the 19th century, Aaron Arrowsmith's detailed, scholarly, and up-to-date renderings at a time of ever-increasing knowledge of the Western Hemisphere, particularly the western and northern portions of North America. Issued as an accompaniment to G.A. Thompson's translation of Colonel Don Antonio de Alcedo's geographical and historical dictionary of the Americas, the Arrowsmith atlas is a landmark work in itself. A copy of Thompson's Alcedo is available in the book section of this catalogue.

The maps in the atlas comprise:

• A map exhibiting all the new discoveries in the interior parts of North America... Additions to June 1814. 3 sheets. 123x57 cm (48¼x22½"); 123x54 cm (48¼x21¼"); 123x35 cm (48¼x13¾").
• A map of the United States of North America... Additions to 1815. 4 sheets. 61.5x71 cm (24¼x27¾"); 61.5x71 cm (24¼x27¾"); 62x71 cm (24½x27¾"); 62x71 cm (24½x27¾").
• A new map of Mexico and adjacent provinces... Additions to 1815. 4 sheets. 64.5x79cm (25½x31"); 64x79 cm (25¼x31"); 64x79 cm (25¼x31"); 64.5x79cm (25½x31").
• Chart of the West Indies and Spanish Dominions in North America. Additions to 1815. 61x141 cm (24x55½"); 61x141 cm (24x55½").
• Outlines of the physical and political divisions of South America:  Delineated by A. Arrowsmith, partly from scarce and original documents, published before the year 1806 but principally from manuscript maps & surveys made between the years 1771 and 1806. Corrected from accurate astronomical observations to 1810. Additions to 1814. 6 sheets. 80x100 cm (31½x39¼"); 81x100 cm (31¾x39¼"); 80x100 cm (31½x39¼"); 81x100 cm (31¾x39¼"); 81x100 cm (31¾x39¼"); 80x100 cm (31½x39¼").

Index to atlas mounted on front pastedown, along with armorial bookplate of Hugh Cecil Earl of Lonsdale.

Provenance: Maggs 9/72

References: P-LG 1174 (maps 2,3,4,5 are later issues). Bancroft has later issue: NA-1824; US-1819; Mex- 1820; WI-1810; SA-1825.