Henry Schenk Tanner; 1786 - 1858.
A key man in american cartography, known for the quality
of his large maps (for his 1818 "A new american atlas" he
used the so-called elephant folio format, which is the largest
print size), he began his career as an engraver (working in
particular for the famous John Melish, provider of United
States wall maps to five US presidents).
He was mostly productive between 1818 and 1846, publishing
in particular the most respected 1828 "New universal atlas".
Always publishing in Philadelphia, he also edited the 1834
"The american traveler".
His son, Thomas, continued publishing his work for about 20
years after his death, but the most commercially successful
map plates were sold to the Johnson Map Company.
West Indies.
This map (14 3/16" X 11 ¼') was initially produced for the
1828 Universal Atlas, updated and re-issued several times
afterwards.
The present item is dated 1834.
It shows in crisp details the possessions claimed by the different
european powers in the Caribbean area.
Notice in particular how the enormous spanish colonial empire
has shrunk, basically left with Cuba, Puerto Rico and a handful
of lesser islands.
By that time, Florida had become a US territory, and Mexico
had obtained independence, like most of the central America
and south America former provinces and vice-kingdoms.
Note that Haiti, having won independence from France in1804
is shown as covering the whole Santo Domingo island (the Dominican
Republic will emancipate from haitian control later in 1844).
Note the presence of a large lake in Florida, then known as
Lake Mayaco (or Macoco on some other maps of the same year).
No text on verso.
|