A Map of Interesting Cape Cod

Uncommon pictorial map of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Skillfully drawn scenes bordering this spectacular map of Cape Cod show why it has been a popular destination ever since being settled by the English in the first half of the 17th century. Game, fish and shellfish provide a variety of locally available foodstuffs while scenic beauty and a generally moderate climate allow for numerous recreational activities. The stipple work within the map makes for a slightly clumsier design, but no doubt took extensive effort.

Roads, towns, and lighthouses are individually labeled in a basic script, while prominent bodies of water earned the right to elaborate scrollwork markers. The scrollwork continues in the large title cartouche, under which can be found the map’s publishing information. According to Kevin Brown at Geographicus, this is the scarcer of two versions of this map. One is attributed to Mary E. Murray and has only two colors, while another was published by F.J. Miller and uses a three tone lithographic process.