George Washington painted by Stuart, steel engraving,circa 1860. Size 17.5 x 23 cm, condition fair. Price £42.00/$84.00. Click for info

At the time of Columbus no printed map extended beyond the confines of the ancient Ptolemaic World. Soon after Columbus's return, maps of America proliferated. There are now many to choose from...

Christopher Columbus (1436-1506) Born in Genoa, Columbus settled in Lisbon, trying to raise capital for a proposed journey of discovery to the west. He was finally sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile in 1492. He set sail with three vessels and 120 men, who were full of doubts and fears, for the Islands of Cipango (Japan), Mango (Southern China) and Cathay. Actually he was trying to reach the Spice Islands, which were reported to be rich in gold and precious stones. Eventually he discovered Cuba, but Columbus believed his first landfall was in India.

America. Louis Brion de la Tour, Very decorative, copper plate engraved map, hand coloured, published by Desnos, dated 1786. Size 32 x 28 cm; Condition very good. Price £340.00 / $680.00 (plus packing and postage). Click for info

The earliest map to show America was produced by Contari in 1506. Other very early maps of America were printed in 1507 by Waldseemuller and by Münster (see Germany) in 1540. Printing had been discovered around that time, and the wealth of information and interest which the New world had generated, resulted in America being very well represented on printed maps.

California an Island? Although California had been correctly mapped as a peninsula at first , from 1592 for about 200 years it became an island. This mistake was copied by most of the cartographers.

Selected American maps currently in stock

America, United States with Upper and Lower Canada, engraved and Published by G.F. Crutchley, Mapseller,81, Fleet Street, London. March 1842 Additions to 1852. 36 x46 cm Condition Good Price £80.00 /$160.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

United States, J. Bartholomew, coloured map, published by William Collins, 1873. 30 x23 cm Condition Fair £45.00 /$90.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

A Chorographical Map of the Northern Department of North America. Reduced from the original in the Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor. Engraved and Printed by John E.Gavit Albany, circa 1820. 31 x 25. cm Condition good £60.00 / $120.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Geographical,Historical and Statistical Map of America for the Elucidation of Lavoisne's Atlas. Coloured map, engraved by J.Walker, revised 1828. 40.5 x 25. cm Condition good £75.00 / $150.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Massachusetts. Coloured map with inset of Boston, date circa 1880. 38 x 26 cm Condition good £34.00 / $68.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Canada. Showing Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. Letts No.1 Coloured map, Scale 28 Miles to the inch, published by Mason and Payne, 1886. 40 x 34 cm Condition good £48.00 / $96.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Selected American prints currently in stock

Hancock House, Boston. Steel engraving, hand coloured with decorative border. Small inset pictures of an Eagle, Action at Bladensburgh,1814, and A Review. Published by J.& F. Tallis circa 1838. 24 x 17 cm Condition good. £38.00 / 76.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

New-York Bay. From the Telegraph Station. J.F.Houston, steel engraving, showing Bay with lots of sailing ships, engraved by J.T.Smyth, published by Fullerton, circa 1850. 16 x 10.5 cm Condition good. £45.00 / $90.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

New York, Paddle Steamers and yachts with View of New York. Lithograph circa 1830. 20.5 x 14 cm Condition good. £80.00 / $160.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Beverly Coast, Massachusetts, Steel engraving from Picturesque America, circa 1880. 23 x 13.5 cm Condition good. £45.00 / $90.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Yale College, Newhaven. W. H. Bartlett, steel engraving, hand coloured, engraved by J.Sands from Willis American Scenery, Published by George Virtue in 1839. 18 x 12 cm Good condition £34.00 / $68.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Columbia Bridge, On the Susquehanna. W.H.Bartlett, steel engraving,from American Scenery, engraved by H.Griffiths, published by George Virtue 1838. 19 x 12.5 cm Good Condition £30.00 / $60.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

View of Hudson City and the Catskill Mountains. W.H.Bartlett, hand coloured steel engraving, Published by George Virtue 1839. 18 x 12.5 cm Good Condition £32.00 / $64.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Capitol of the United States, Washington. Decorative border with Eagle at the top, small inset picture of Washington selecting the site for the Capitol, and Washington making his last speech in the Senate Chamber. J.and F.Tallis, steel engraving, circa 1840. 24 x 18 cm Condition good. £42.00 / $84.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

President Lincoln delivering his Inaugural Address in front of the Capitol at Washington. Wood engraving, The Illustrated London News, March 30th,1861. 36 x 25 cm Good Condition £42.00 / $84.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

City of Baltimore, G.Perkins, steel engraving, hand coloured, entered according to the Act of Congress by D.Appleton 1873. 20.5 x 13.5 cm Good Condition £45.00 / $90.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

City of Buffalo, A.C.Warren, steel engraving, hand coloured, entered according to the Act of Congress by D.Appleton 1873. 23 x 14 cm Good Condition £45.00 / $90.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

City of Cleveland from Reservoir Walk. A.C.Warren, steel engraving from Picturesque America, engraved by R.Hinshelwood, published by D.Appleton circa 1872. 23 x 13.5 cm Good Condition £42.00 / $84.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

A Street in New Orleans. Wood engraving, hand coloured, circa 1860. 14 x 12 cm Condition Good £28.00 / $56.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

The Negro Reveillee, Charlestown. Illustrated London News, September 27, 1856. 10 x 10 cm Condition fair £25.00 / $50.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

View of Salt Lake City. Wood engraving circa 1880. 15 x 9.5 cm Condition good £25.00 / $50.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

West Indies, Theodore De Bry, from a series of Grand Voyages which he published and illustrated after being inspired by Thomas Hariot who wrote about the failed attempt to found a colony by Walter Raleigh on the coast of Carolina in 1585-86. Copper plate engraving c1590. 20 x 16.5 cm Condition fair, censored £140.00 / $280.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Floridaner von 1500. J.Trentsensky, after John White, very colourful Lithograph circa 1800. 23.5 x 33cm Condition good £65.00 / $130.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Canadier von 1750. J.Trentsensky, after John White, very colourful Lithograph circa 1800. 23.5 x 33cm Condition good £65.00 / $130.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

Prince William Canal. Gezigt van den Digten Hoekbogt in Prins Willems Kanaal. Copperplate engraving circa 1800. 39x 25.5 cm Condition good £48.00 / $96.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top

The Victorys' crew saved by the Isabella. Steel engraving, hand coloured from Captain Ross's Expedition to find the North West passage 1832. 16 x 10 cm (picture only) Condition good £34.00 / $68.00 (plus packing and postage) Click for info Back to top