Overton's rare and decorative map of North America is one of the most fascinating large format English maps of America published in the 18th Century.
The present example of the map was printed with four copper plates, two for the map and two outer panels, each made up of five views. The views on the left are Havana; Panama; Porto Rico (San Juan); Cartagena; and Porto Bello (which had been seized by Admiral Vernon, to whom the first and second editions of the map are dedicated). The views on the right are Boston; New York; Mexico (City); Vera Cruz; and Chagre (also taken by Admiral Vernon).
There are two recorded states of this map (and an unrecorded 1759 edition of the map, which we sold in January 2007). The first edition of the map was issued in 1741. The map was likely made by Overton to celebrate the early victories of Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon over Spain in War of Jenkins' Ear. This war lasted between1739-1743 and started off well for British, bringing acclaim to Vernon. The lower right and left images on the map, Porto Bello and Chagre depict his two major victories. Admiral Vernon claims an interesting footnote in American History. Many American colonists took part in the War of Jenkin's Ear, including a young officer named Lawrence Washington. Lawrence was so impressed with the Admiral that he named his ancestral home in Virginia after him, thus the name Mount Vernon. Lawrence Washington did not have any descendants and the home eventually passed to Lawrence's half-brother, George Washington.
Henry Overton took over his father's map business in 1707 and issued a wide range of maps until 1749. His work generally was issued separately, as in the case of this map. Very few impressions of this map are known to exist. We know of two other examples having been offered in the past thirty years, a 1745 example which was sold in 1992 to a private collector, and an example of the first state in the Slaughter Collection, at the New York Public Library.
The following differences have been noted between the two known states, 1741 and 1745: In the first state, the map is printed on two plates, right and left and joined in the center. In the second state the two side panels of views are now separate plates. It is likely that Overton cut the panels off between states so that they could be used with another map. The second state also includes the addition of a portrait of Admiral Vernon above the title cartouche. This circular area is blank in the first state. This third state of the map includes a number of new changes. The date is changed to 1759. The dedication of the map is made to Vice Admiral Edmund Boscanwen, Esq., and the portrait has also been changed. The French claims in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys are no longer in evidence, Georgia and Savana [sic] are added and there are other changes within the map.
The Overton family was a prominent part of the printing, and mapmaking, industry in London in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. John Overton (1639/40-1713) was the son of a tailor who apprenticed to Stationer Thomas Gould. He was made free of the Stationers’ Company in 1663. Two years later, London was struck by the Great Plague of 1665-6. Peter Stent, a leading printseller, succumbed and Overton took over his shop. This burned in the Great Fire of 1666, but Overton had rebuilt by 1669, when he advertised his wares from the White Horse on Snow Hill. Overton specialized in prints, portraits, and especially maps and topographical views.
John was likely married three times and had seven children. His eldest, Thomas, emigrated to America. His second oldest, Henry, was executor of John’s will when the latter died in 1713. Henry (1675/6-1751) acquired his father’s stock in 1707 and ran the shop until his own death in 1751. He published many maps, most focusing on the British Isles. His shop and stock passed to his nephew, another Henry, son of John’s fourth son, James.
Henry the Elder’s brother, Philip (ca. 1681-1745), was also a printer and mapmaker. Philip served as his father’s apprentice and was made free of the Stationers’ in 1702. His father set him up in the trade in 1707 and by 1710 he was working from the sign of the Golden Buck in Fleet Street. Philip specialized in fine arts prints, including Hogarth’s Hudibras set (1726), but he also sold many maps. At his death in 1745 he left his shop to his widow, Mary. She ran the shop and then married James Sayer, whose brother, Robert, became Mary’s assistant. He took over the business in 1748 and became a famous purveyor of maps, charts, and views.
Back at the sign of the White Horse, Henry the Younger continued the family business, expanding their stock to include a large collection of landscape views. He often partnered with Robert Sayer. He continued in business until at least 1764, when he drops out of the historical record.