A General Map of the World or Terraqueous Globe, with all the New Discoveries and Marginal Delineations, Containing the Most Interesting Particulars in the Solar, Starry and Mundane System, by Saml. Dunn, Mathematician.
London: Robert Sayer, 1787. First edition under this title. Maps. An imposing, monumental format, double hemisphere world map completely surrounded with detailed scientific calculations and descriptions that include, Northern and Southern hemisphere star charts, a selenographic map of the Moon, an astronomical latitude and longitude Analemma, along with Jupiter, Mars and Venus, a map of the Solar System, a Mercator projection of the world, a seasonal chart, a universal scale chart, an Analemma projection and numerous smaller diagrams depicting mathematical systems. In total, there are 15 inserts around the edge.
Subtitle; Printed for Robert Sayer, No. 53 Fleet St., as the Act Directs January 6, 1787.
The map first appeared in 1772 titled "Scientia terrarum et coelorum, or, The heavens and earth astronomically and geographically delineated and display'd..." This is the first edition with the updated title. Notable expedition tracks include the three voyages of Captain James Cook; Anson, Bougainville, Bouvet, Middleton, Phipps and one "Spanish galleon S. Carlos 1760". Off the Western Australian coast is printed the "St. Allouarn's tracks 1772". Saint-Alouarn landed at the northern tip of Dirk Hartog Island on the 30th of March 1772, where he claimed possession of the western half of New Holland for King Louis XVI. This is two years after Captain James Cook landed at Botany Bay.
Australia appears in full as New Holland or Terra Australis. Named landing sightings are noted along the coast with the year of discovery. Diemen's Land (Tasmania) has the discovery date of 1642 printed beneath. This map continued the cartographic error that Tasmania was attached to the mainland - an error that was not corrected in Sayer's map until the 1799 edition. New Zealand also records some inaccuracies, this time the map includes the errors that Cook charted- Stewart Island is attached to the South Island and the peninsula south of Lyttleton is named Banks Island.
Samuel Dunn (1723 - January 1794) was a teacher of mathematics, navigation, and astronomy, an engraver, who was appointed a member of the Commission for the Discovery of the Longitude at Sea where he became acquainted with James Cook and his quest to solve the longitude problem.
Robert Sayer (1725 - January 29, 1794) was an important English map publisher and engraver. He acquired rights to many of the important Jefferys map plates as well as his unpublished research. He formed a partnership in 1777, creating the firm of Sayer and Bennett, which survived through 1784 when Bennett retired. In 1790, Sayer added Robert Laurie and James Whittle as partners and eventual successors.
A dark impression of this large map, published in 4 sheets, now joined and mounted on acid free canvas, measuring 42 x 49". Copper engraving with period outline color of the countries. The Mercator projection of the world is based on earlier cartographic research by J. B. B. D'Anville. In the lower right corner "Printed for Rt Sayer, Map, Chart and Print Seller, 53 Fleet St., 1787". Tiny bit of offsetting on one section hardly worth mentioning. Overall, in very good condition. Item #26880
Price: $6,500.00