Herman Moll; c1654-1732.
A noted dutch engraver of german descent, Moll emigrated
from Holland, and set shop in London around 1680. By the turn
of the century, he had achieved prominence in the map publishing
business thanks to a tireless production of atlas volumes,
geography books, decorative maps and miniature maps, all
of distinguished quality.
He is often credited for being the first mapmaker to use the
London Meridian as a universal longitude reference.
His "New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King of Great
Britain on ye Continent of North America" (also known as the
"Beaver Map") first issued in 1715, was a basis for the British
to counterclaim the French territorial designs after the Spanish
Succession War (1702-1713).
He was often copied by other publishers (of which he was very
conscious). But, as was customary at that time, he also made
good use of the works produced by his peers.
Among his noted productions: "Atlas Manuale" in 1709, "Atlas
Geographicus" in 1711, "The world described" in 1719-1736,
"A new description of England and Wales" in 1724 in collaboration
with T&J Bowles, reissued under various titles in 1726, 1728,
1739, 1747, 1753; and the 1727 "Atlas minor".
A map of Terra Firma. Guiana and
the Antilles islands.
This map (9 7/8" X 7 1/16") seems to have been originally
prepared around 1716, possibly for a late edition of the Atlas
Geographicus.
The present item was printed in 1745 by Thomas Osborne for
illustrating his "A collection of voyages and travels".
It shows in great detail the possessions claimed by the european
powers (but the border line between the french and spanish
zones on Santo Domingo is quite unusual).
Note another strange item: the Florida peninsula is given
as part of Louisiana (may be due to an excessive interpretation
of the french claim on the Mississippi basin in 1682).
No text on verso.
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