The Virgin Islands from English and Danish Surveys, by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to the King...
[London]: Published by Laurie & Whittle. No. 53 in Fleet Street, as the Act directs. 1797. Image size: 18 3/8 x 24." Sheet size: 21 x 28 ¾.”. Hand color. Very good with minor staining at the edges and a paper loss of about 2” at the far right of the lower blank margin. Item #3793
This classic map of the Virgin Islands appeared in Thomas Jefferys' West India Atlas; the first issue of the chart was dated 1775. This issue and others followed, with later imprint dates, during the next quarter century.
It is a visually captivating chart, portraying not only the Virgins, but also the eastern end of Puerto Rico, Anguilla, Sombrero Island, St. Martin and St. Kitts. Eleven approach views fill three corners of the chart. An inset chart of Peters Island appears at the lower left, with this addition only made in later issues of the chart. Several channels -- Sir Francis Drake Channel most prominent among them -- are indicated. Strictly geographic information is augmented with nautical observations ("Good Anchoring") and local legends (see Treasure Point on Anegada). At the lower center is a short geographic and historic overview of the Virgin Islands titled "Observations."
References: Sellers & Van Ee, Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750-1789: 1982 (citing five editions between 1775 and 1787). National Maritime Museum (online catalogue): GREN80A/2 (for 1775 edition). Treasure Maps and Charts in the Library of Congress (Second edition): 62 (citing a 1972 reprint of the chart).
[ICN 7808.4.].
Price: $4,750.00