[FOSTER, George (fl. 1735-1740)] – Robert SAYER (1735-1794). - photo 1

[FOSTER, George (fl. 1735-1740)] – Robert SAYER (1735-1794).

Lot 116
10.07.2024 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 10 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1249826
Lot 116 | [FOSTER, George (fl. 1735-1740)] – Robert SAYER (1735-1794).
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
[FOSTER, George (fl. 1735-1740)] – Robert SAYER (1735-1794).
A New & Correct Map of all America, with the West India Islands, according to the definitive treaty concluded at Paris, 10th Feby. 1763. London: printed for Robert Sayer opposite Fetter Lane Fleet Street, [n.d., but probably 1763-1767].
Exceptionally rare map of the Americas, complete with its engraved side-panels, with only two located in institutions, and only one partial copy selling at auction in the past 50 years. It contains the latest important geopolitical updates: the colony of Georgia, established in 1733, is marked, as are other boundary changes in the light of the French and Indian War (1754-1763), including the provinces of Quebec, and East and West Florida. These were all established in 1763 by the provisions of the Treaty of Paris, as indicated by the title.

First published in 1735 by the little-known cartographer George Foster, the geography of this map is clearly derived from Herman Moll’s Map of North America (c.1719), with its directly lifted depictions of the Pacific Northwest and California as an island, and the reworked inset engraving of the Newfoundland fisheries. Foster’s version first appeared as a separate map, and then without side panels in William Keith's rare History of the British Plantations in America (London, 1738; McLaughlin 215 state 3). The present lot is in the sixth state, with the Mississippi delta shifted slightly eastward, and the western boundaries of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia extending to the Mississippi.

The publishing history of maps in London in the 18th century is convoluted, and George Foster’s position within it is not clear. Various business decisions, such as the acquisition of Moll’s copperplates by the Bowles brothers in 1732, and the takeover of Philip Overton’s workshop by Robert Sayer, to say nothing of the availability and reuse of engravings in decorative side panels, have sown confusion.

McLaughlin states that Foster’s map served as the basis for John Bowles and Son’s A New and Exact Map of America of 1754 (Tooley 99 and pl. XL), and is therefore an antecedent of the present lot. But although both share many similarities, the former shows a more distinct influence of Moll with its Beaver vignette, while the present lot omits this. The Bowles map of 1754 is flanked by narrow side-panels of 6 small vignettes derived from John White's account of Virginia, and contemporary accounts of Mexico and Peru published by Theodore De Bry, whereas the present lot has two flanking panels comprising of one large and 8 small vignettes from the same sources. Where the images match, those in the present lot have been re-engraved in reverse to the 1754 Bowles map.

In the present map, the imprint of Foster to bottom right of North Pole inset has been erased, although still faintly visible. Robert Sayer’s imprint appears below the left-hand side panel. This gives the address of ‘opposite Fetter Lane Fleet Street,’ which was Philip Overton’s premises at the Golden Buck. In 1748 Overton’s business was bought by Robert Sayer, who only moved to 53 Fleet Street in 1767, so we deduce this map was produced sometime between 1763 and 1767 (Worms & Baynton-Williams, British Map Engravers, p. 587).

We have only been able to trace one auction record of a map that matches the present lot, and that was the central portion only without side panels (Roland Auctions, Glen Cove, NY, 12 September 2020, lot 378). The British Library only acquired a copy of this map in 1987 (Maps CC.5.a.262; Campbell The Map Collector, 46 (1989): 2-10); the only other institutional copy we can trace is that in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. Later variants of this map are also extremely rare: Boston Rare Maps once had in stock a 1767 issue with a Sayer imprint; and Stanford hold a much later Laurie and Whittle imprint of 1797 with the cartouche completely redone, California as a peninsula, the words United States engraved over the Eastern part of North America, and adds Molls’ famous Beaver image.

References: McLaughlin The mapping of California as an island : an illustrated checklist (1995) 215, state 6, and 240; Tooley California as an island (1964), 99, pl. XL.

Engraved map of North and South America, extending eastwards to show Iceland, the British Isles and the extreme western seaboards of Europe and Africa including the Azores and Cape Verde islands, California shown as an island, with title cartouche over north-west America, 3 small inset maps of the harbours of Port Royal and Boston and the coast of Georgia, inset circular projection of the North Pole to bottom left and vignette of the Newfoundland cod fisheries to bottom right, partial outline colouring by a contemporary hand, bordered by two side panels, each consisting of 9 engraved vignettes showing the customs of indigenous Americans, erased imprint of George Foster and Sons to bottom right of North Pole inset, printed on 3 joined sheets, 555 x 940mm (plate mark), 580 x 975mm (sheet). Provenance: ‘Vol. 59 No 17’ stamped in ink with final number added in ink manuscript on verso at top-centre, probably near-contemporary to date of publication, indicating the map was most probably sometime extracted from a multi-volume atlas.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.07.2024 – 10.07.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

A Plan of the Battle of Bunker Hill
A Plan of the Battle of Bunker Hill
$4 000

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>
×
Save this search query and get timely email alerts! It is simple and very effective.
эдвард уэстон (1886 - 1958)
Create a Search Subscription