MOLL, Herman (c.1654-1732) - photo 1

MOLL, Herman (c.1654-1732)

Starting price
£ 6 000
Auction dateClassic
13.12.2023 11:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1105615
Lot 98 | MOLL, Herman (c.1654-1732)
MOLL, Herman (c.1654-1732)

A New Map of the North Parts of America claimed by France under ye names of Louisiana, Mississipi, Canada and New France with the Adjoyning Territories of England and Spain. Dublin: George Grierson, [c.1735].

Very rare Irish edition of Herman Moll's heavily-politicised map of North America, presenting strong counterclaims against the cartography of Delisle. In 1718, Guillaume Delisle published his map Carte de Louisiane et du Cours du Mississipi [sic], which has been described by Schwartz and Ehrenberg as a ‘chauvinistic pictorial argument supporting French authority [and] showed the British colonies surrounding the French possessions in the west, and it claimed the Carolinas for France’ (p.140). By way of reaction, Moll produced this map, actually based on Delisle’s, but with the addition of 'original draughts of Mr Blackmore, the Ingenious Mr Berisford now Residing in Carolina, Cap.t Nairn and others never before Publish'd'. Moll makes a clear written statement of the English claim to the Carolinas while the title cartouche complains of French ‘Incroachments’. Moll marks the territory of the 'Charakeys and Iroquois, by much the most powerfull of all ye Neighbouring Indian Nations, the old Friends and Allies of the English', whom he describes as the 'Bulwark and Security' between the British plantations and the French.



George Grierson (1680-1753) was a leading Dublin publisher, 'Printer to the King in Ireland' from 1732, who copied several of Moll's atlases. However, Grierson respected the copyright laws of the time, and there are enough differences, both large – the inset view of ‘The Indian Fort Sasquesahanok’ has been erased – and small, to indicate this is a new plate. This map appeared in Grierson’s edition of Moll's The World Described, of which there one known institutional example (R.G.S., London). The present lot is the second of two known editions of Grierson's map, with the dedication to Ambrose Philips removed. We have only been able to trace one copy of the first state at auction (RBH), and none of this edition. McLaughlin, The Mapping of California as an Island 197 (‘Shows southern part of California and Gulf of California, which widens at north’); Phillips, America, p. 567; Cumming, The Southeast in Early Maps, pp. 43-44.



Engraved map on two joined sheets within yellow-coloured border of latitude and longitude scales, contemporary hand colouring of borders to reflect the contested boundaries of North America between France, England, and Spain at the time, scale projection to lower right with colour wash, Tropic of Cancer in red, compass rose, title cartouche with decorative frame to lower-left and Grierson’s imprint just to its right, two inset maps of ‘The Harbour of Annapolis Royal’ and ‘A Map of ye Mouth of Mississipi [sic] and Mobile Rivers’ within frames to right, blank area to top left where former inset of ‘The Indian Fort Sasquesahanok’ has been erased, 610 x 1010mm (plate mark), 633 x 1030mm (sheet).

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 18:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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.