John Gibson; c1725 -1792.
Little is known about this prolific engraver.
Gibson won his fame for his cartographic output for the "Gentlemen's
Magazine" (one of the regular publications of Paternoster
Row, such as the "London Magazine", the "Royal Magazine",
the "Universal Magazine", the "Intelligencer", etc.). The
magazines were the prime source of information for the Londoners,
anxious to better understand the prosecution of wars, and
the land conquests in the far reaches of the Empire. Hence
a host of cartographers were kept busy by the reporting of
the latest developments: Thomas Kitchin, Emmanuel Bowen, John
Hinton, Thomas Jefferys, John Gibson, John Lodge.
Most of Gibson work was directly derived from earlier maps
produced by geographers of good standing.
Of note, the 1758 Atlas Minimus, a collaborative effort with
Emmanuel Bowen, re-issued in 1774.
A new and accurate map, of America.
Although undated, this map (6 1/8" X 8") was probably
published close to the american war of independence.
It might have been printed for the "Atlas Minimus".
Geographic clues:
- the Alaska (or absence of) delineation is typical of the
pre-1780 era (third travel of Captain Cook),
- so are the mythical river of the west across the northern
US, and the lake source of the Paraguay river.
Historical clues:
- the Louisiana east border on the Mississippi river: result
of the 1763 first treaty of Paris putting an end to the seven
year war.
- the canadian border seems to indicate the presence of a
non-british territory on its south. but the United States
name is not mentioned (as would be the case after the 1783
second treaty of Paris where Britain recognized the independence
of the USA).
- the Brazil border extending south to the Rio de la Plata:
widely accepted after the 1770 era.
No text on verso.
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