A New and Correct Map of the British Colonies in North America…

Detailed map of British interests in North America shortly after the establishment of the United States.

This impressive map of the North Atlantic coastline captures the nascent United States and British Canada between the Delaware Bay and Labrador. It shows the region just over a decade after the Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolutionary War.

An interesting configuration of the northeastern states is presented, with a truncated southern border of Vermont and Pennsylvania’s claims extending to the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Native American tribes, primary transportation routes, geographic features, and a fascinating variety of place names are listed throughout the image, providing a detailed snapshot of the late 18th century.

The upper right includes a decorative title cartouche topped by an image of a beaver. Immediately below is a note referencing the political organization and fishing rights of Newfoundland, with French territory (guaranteed by the 1783 treaty) highlighted in blue. The Grand Banks, the source of the rich fishing areas, are shown as well.

The map was created by Robert Laurie and James Whittle and is dated 1794, though it was likely included in a somewhat later edition of Thomas Kitchin’s New Universal Atlas, published in London. The image is based on the enormously influential Evans/Pownall map of 1755, itself being updated in 1776 by Robert Sayer and John Bennett as part of the American Military Pocket Atlas. Subsequent editions were issued with very minor changes in 1788, 1794 (this example), and 1806.

Source: Tooley Mapping of America p. 92, Rumsey 2310.086