![EVANS, Lewis (c.1700-1756). Geographical, Historical, Political, Philosophical and Mechanical Essays. The first containing an analysis of a general map of the middle British Colonies in America and of the country of the confederate Indians. Philadelphia: B. Franklin and D. Hall for R. and J. Dodsley, London, 1755. Folding hand-coloured engraved map by James Turner after Lewis Evans. (Lacks the folded leaf of plates called for by ESTC, map with 50mm. tear from inner margin across border and with slight tears along centre fold.) FIRST STATE OF THE MAP without the addition of the name 'The Lakes Cataraqui' above Lake Ontario. Miller 605A; Wheat and Brun 298: 'Identical in all details with the Philadelphia first edition of Evans' Essays [Evans 7411; Miller 605] except for the addition of the R. and J. Dodsley name and address in the title-page imprint'; Evans 7413; Howes E226; cf. Sabin 23175. [Bound with:]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/CKS/2005_CKS_07137_0012_000(101616).jpg?w=1)
Details
EVANS, Lewis (c.1700-1756). Geographical, Historical, Political, Philosophical and Mechanical Essays. The first containing an analysis of a general map of the middle British Colonies in America and of the country of the confederate Indians. Philadelphia: B. Franklin and D. Hall for R. and J. Dodsley, London, 1755. Folding hand-coloured engraved map by James Turner after Lewis Evans. (Lacks the folded leaf of plates called for by ESTC, map with 50mm. tear from inner margin across border and with slight tears along centre fold.) FIRST STATE OF THE MAP without the addition of the name 'The Lakes Cataraqui' above Lake Ontario. Miller 605A; Wheat and Brun 298: 'Identical in all details with the Philadelphia first edition of Evans' Essays [Evans 7411; Miller 605] except for the addition of the R. and J. Dodsley name and address in the title-page imprint'; Evans 7413; Howes E226; cf. Sabin 23175. [Bound with:]
EVANS, L. Geographical, Historical, Political, Philosophical and Mechanical Essays. Number II. containing a letter representing the impropriety of sending forces to Virginia ... containing objections to those parts of Evans's general map and analysis, which related to the French title to the country, on the North West side of St. Laurence River. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1756. The American edition was issued in Philadelphia in the same year and was published as a defence against attacks in the New York Mercury. Sabin 23176. [and:]
[HUSKE, Ellis (1700-1755)]. The Present State of North America,&c. Part I [all published]. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1755. Two editions were published in Boston and two in London in 1755. This is the first London edition; the second included a small map. No other parts appeared. Sabin 34027. cf Swartz and Ehrenberg p.162. Huske, a supporter of Mitchell, clarifies British and French claims at the outset of the French and Indian War. [and:]
[JEFFERYS, Thomas (d. 1771)]. Explanation for the New Map of Nova Scotia and Great Britain, with the adjacent parts of New England and Canada. London: T. Jeffreys, 1755. Intended to accompany the map used as a frontispiece in The Memorials of the English and French Commissaries (London, 1755). cf Swartz and Ehrenberg p.162. Jefferys took issue with the accuracy of Mitchell's 1755 map.
Together 4 tracts in one volume, 4° (266 x 197mm). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, red speckled edges (covers torn). Provenance: John Clevland (1707?-1763, M.P. for Saltash and Sandwich and Secretary of the Admiralty, armorial bookplate).
AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF TRACTS ON NORTH AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. The first work, printed by Benjamin Franklin, contains Lewis Evans' celebrated map of 'A General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America' which also included the Ohio valley. This was a reduced but much improved form of an earlier map by Lewis. Sabin notes that many copies of his book 'do not possess it', and that only some copies are coloured. Schwartz and Ehrenburg state that the map is 'ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MAPS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA BEFORE INDEPENDENCE' and is considered by historians to be the most ambitious performance of its kind undertaken in America up to that time, and its publication was a milestone in the development of the printing arts in the colonial period" (The Mapping of America, p. 162). The Evans map appeared in the same year as John Mitchell's famous map, Evans drawing from his original surveys and Fry and Jefferson's map of Virginia, 1753. Evans' map acknowledges French claims to all lands Northwest of St. Lawrence Fort, resulting in criticism from New York, notably the New York Mercury. Despite the controversy, it was very popular (18 editions between 1755 and 1814), and was famously used by General Braddock during the French and Indian War.
EVANS, L. Geographical, Historical, Political, Philosophical and Mechanical Essays. Number II. containing a letter representing the impropriety of sending forces to Virginia ... containing objections to those parts of Evans's general map and analysis, which related to the French title to the country, on the North West side of St. Laurence River. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1756. The American edition was issued in Philadelphia in the same year and was published as a defence against attacks in the New York Mercury. Sabin 23176. [and:]
[HUSKE, Ellis (1700-1755)]. The Present State of North America,&c. Part I [all published]. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1755. Two editions were published in Boston and two in London in 1755. This is the first London edition; the second included a small map. No other parts appeared. Sabin 34027. cf Swartz and Ehrenberg p.162. Huske, a supporter of Mitchell, clarifies British and French claims at the outset of the French and Indian War. [and:]
[JEFFERYS, Thomas (d. 1771)]. Explanation for the New Map of Nova Scotia and Great Britain, with the adjacent parts of New England and Canada. London: T. Jeffreys, 1755. Intended to accompany the map used as a frontispiece in The Memorials of the English and French Commissaries (London, 1755). cf Swartz and Ehrenberg p.162. Jefferys took issue with the accuracy of Mitchell's 1755 map.
Together 4 tracts in one volume, 4° (266 x 197mm). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, red speckled edges (covers torn). Provenance: John Clevland (1707?-1763, M.P. for Saltash and Sandwich and Secretary of the Admiralty, armorial bookplate).
AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF TRACTS ON NORTH AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. The first work, printed by Benjamin Franklin, contains Lewis Evans' celebrated map of 'A General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America' which also included the Ohio valley. This was a reduced but much improved form of an earlier map by Lewis. Sabin notes that many copies of his book 'do not possess it', and that only some copies are coloured. Schwartz and Ehrenburg state that the map is 'ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MAPS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA BEFORE INDEPENDENCE' and is considered by historians to be the most ambitious performance of its kind undertaken in America up to that time, and its publication was a milestone in the development of the printing arts in the colonial period" (The Mapping of America, p. 162). The Evans map appeared in the same year as John Mitchell's famous map, Evans drawing from his original surveys and Fry and Jefferson's map of Virginia, 1753. Evans' map acknowledges French claims to all lands Northwest of St. Lawrence Fort, resulting in criticism from New York, notably the New York Mercury. Despite the controversy, it was very popular (18 editions between 1755 and 1814), and was famously used by General Braddock during the French and Indian War.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.