Boston Rare MapsSpecializing in rare, important and unusual American maps and prints
![A[ugust] F[riedrich] W[ilhelm] Crome / F.A. Pingeling Sculpsit Hamburg, NEUE CARTE VON EUROPA welch die merkwürdigsten Producte und vernehmsten Handelsplätze dem Flächen-Inhalt aller Europäischen Länder…. Dessau, 1782.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/BRM3382-Crome-Europe_lowres-e1569267525944-150x150.jpg)
A detailed thematic map illustrating European agricultural, extractive and manufacturing activity at the end of the 18th century. Thought to be the earliest example of economic mapping. Crome’s map illustrates the distribution across Europe of the production of 56 commodities and other products, including gold, copper, wine, fruit, salt, hemp, silk, horses, and so on. The symbols for each […]
A scarce and interesting 1793 chart depicting the Gulf Stream, as well as thermometric observations of the Atlantic made on several trans-Atlantic voyages by Jonathan Williams. A grand-nephew of Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Williams (1750-1815) served as his uncle’s personal secretary during his service as American agent in England in the early 1770s and as ambassador […]
![Know Thyself! Lectures on Phrenology by Dr. J. P. M’Lean at [blank] on the Evening of [blank.] Subjects: How to Read Character Scientifically; Including the Physical, Social, Moral, and Intellectual Development of the Race. Public Examinations at the Close of Each Lecture. [New York]: Office of the “Phrenological Journal,” 389 Broadway. S. R. Wells, Publisher, [c. 1870].](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BRM-Know-Thyself-ca-1870_KB-consignment_lowres-scaled-e1584994800953-150x150.jpg)
A large and impressive illustrated broadside issued by one of the leading publishers of phrenological material, designed for the use of those organizing public lectures on the subject of phrenology and likely part of the publisher’s campaign to sell copies of a book on the subject. Appearing at the top of the broadside is the […]
![[Benjamin Franklin], The Colonies Reduced / Its Companion. London: Designed & Engraved for The Political Register, [December 1768.]](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BRM2853-Franklin-Colonies-Reduced-1768-e1576340353134-150x150.jpg)
An early re-issue of The Colonies Reduced, a clever political cartoon by Ben Franklin attacking the Stamp Act. The cartoon consists of two panels. According to Dolmetsch the upper panel is based on a cartoon originally designed by Benjamin Franklin while acting as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent in London. Upon the passage of the Stamp Act in […]
A landmark map of northern New Jersey and a desirable example of early Colonial engraving and printing. This map was one of three to appear in the 1747 Bill in the Chancery of New Jersey, a vital document reflecting long-standing land disputes of colonial New Jersey. An invaluable review of Colonial New Jersey land ownership […]
![J[oseph] Priestley, L.L.D. F.R.S., A NEW CHART OF HISTORY. London: Engraved and published by J. Johnson in Pater-noster Row, J. Bowles No. 13 Cornhill, C. Bowles No. 69 St. Pauls Church Yard, R. Sayer No. 53 Fleet Street and T. Jefferys the corner of St. Martins Lane Charing Cross, April 11th 1769.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BRM3253-Priestley-Chart-History-e1554298611866-150x150.jpg)
Joseph Priestley’s very rare New Chart of History, a “masterpiece of visual economy” (Rosenberg and Grafton) and a landmark in the display of information. The polymathic Joseph Priestly (1733-1804) was a British clergyman, theologian, scientist, political theorist, educator and prolific author with more than 150 works to his credit. Best known as a chemist, he […]
A scarce map of the American colonies, engraved by James Turner of Boston and published and sold by Ben Franklin. One of the very few maps produced in America before 1750 and obtainable by the collector. Background This is one of three maps engraved by James Turner and issued with a A Bill in the […]
A dramatic, unrecorded broadside relating the burning in effigy of Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson and British Solicitor General Alexander Wedderburn in Philadelphia in 1774. This came in “retaliation” for the humiliation of Benjamin Franklin in London after the revelation of his role in the publication of Hutchinson’s papers. In 1767-69, against the backdrop of ongoing […]
A most important map, hurried into print in the Summer of 1783 to capitalize on the signing of the Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain formally recognized American independence. Very rare: one of only thirteen or fourteen known examples, of which only one or at most two are recorded in private hands. The Treaty […]
![Lewis Evans / Benjamin Franklin (printer) / James Turner (engraver), A general MAP of the MIDDLE BRITISH COLONIES, in AMERICA; Viz VIRGINIA, MARILAND, DELAWARE, PENSILVANIA, NEW-JERSEY, NEW-YORK, CONNECTICUT, and RHODE ISLAND: Of AQUANISHUONÎGY, the Country of the Confederate Indians; … By Lewis Evans. 1755. [Bound in:] Geographical, Historical, Political, Philosophical and Mechanical ESSAYS. The FIRST, Containing An ANALYSIS Of a General MAP of the MIDDLE BRITISH COLONIES IN AMERICA; And of the Country of the Confederate Indians; A Description of the Face of the Country;…By LEWIS EVANS. The second EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: Printed by B. FRANKLIN, and D. HALL. MDCCLV. And sold by J. and R. DODSLEY, in Pall-Mall, London.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BRM-3427-Evans-Essays-1755_map_lowres-150x150.jpg)
A superb example in full original color of the rare first state of the Lewis Evans Map of the Middle British Colonies, called by Schwartz and Ehrenberg “the most ambitious performance of its kind undertaken in America up to that time.” Bound in, as issued, to Evans’ Analysis of a General Map of the Middle […]