The magazines of London. c1725- c1800.

Around 1750, London witnessed the explosive circulation growth of periodicals (mostly monthlies). These magazines, generally extremely well researched, offered up-to-the-moment political/economical/social information to their well educated audience. Some of these magazines are still regularly published today.
Based mostly on/around PaterNoster Row, the Gentlemen's Magazine, the Royal Magazine, the Universal Magazine, the Intelligencer, the Scot's magazine (in Edinburg), the Lady's magazine, Town and Country magazine,. were the main source of information for the british elite when it came to detailing and explaining the latest developments in the far reaches of the Empire. As such a full complement of cartographers was retained to illustrate battle accounts, town sieges, harbor blockades, and land conquests; almost in real time (for that period). Thomas Jefferys, Thomas Kitchin, Emanuel Bowen and later his son Thomas, John Hinton, John Gibson, John Lodge, John Cary, and many other of lesser reputation, participated in the effort. In most cases, the maps were of rather small format, and uncolored.

Plan of the city of Havanah.

This small map (3½"X4") was printed for one of the very popular London magazines of the time This work was clearly influenced by the 1737 map by Homann (heirs), showing very similar coastal delineation, sounding depths, town layout, fortifications position and strength (down to the detail of the chain strung between the Morro fort and the Punta fort, to block the entrance of the harbor).
At the beginning of the 1739 war with Spain, the British clearly understood the value of the Havana strong point. In a fit of wishful thinking, the author envisions the unimpeded naval bombardment of the town by the royal navy. In fact, none of the British commanders (most of then stationed in Jamaica) could come close to seize the town at that time, or even afflict any serious damage to its port activities. Elsewhere on the Caribbean theater, Admiral Andrew Vernon was badly beaten back by Don Blas de Lezo when attacking the southern cuban port of Santiago (after having failed in its siege of Cartagena), while General James Oglethorpe had to withdraw in front of San Augustine, and Commodore George Anson could only harass the spaniards on the Pacific coast).
The whole page shows additional fascinating details about the british intelligence on the town and the island, and the siege strategy which will be used in 1762 to capture the stronghold.
Page 4 7/8"X 8", recent hand colors, english text on verso.