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This is a rare early state of this detailed two sheet map covering New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island.

The map offers a comprehensive depiction of four key regions: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, and Prince Edward Island. Significantly revised and improved from its original 1825 state, the map reflects the evolving political, social, and economic landscape in the decades preceding its publication.  

New Brunswick

In the early 19th century, New Brunswick’s development was largely driven by its timber industry, with vast forest resources fueling both domestic needs and the British market. The province saw an influx of Loyalist settlers after the American Revolution, which solidified its economic foundation and led to the establishment of new settlements and townships, as depicted on this map.

In the early 19th century, New Brunswick was a marginal corner of the British Empire, characterized by poor agricultural conditions, limited mineral resources, and an inferior fishery compared to neighboring Nova Scotia. However, the province's economic trajectory was dramatically altered by geopolitical shifts in Europe. In 1807, Napoleon's Continental Blockade cut off Britain’s access to traditional timber supplies from the Baltic region. In response, Britain introduced protective tariffs to foster timber production in its North American colonies, particularly in New Brunswick, which was blessed with vast forests of spruce and pine. The province’s numerous rivers made these forests accessible, enabling a rapid expansion of the squared-timber trade, which would define the province’s economy, politics, and society for the next half-century.

Between 1805 and 1812, New Brunswick exported around 100,000 tons of timber annually, with exports peaking at 417,000 tons in 1825, the same year as the publication of the first state of Wyld's map. This booming industry transformed New Brunswick from a peripheral colony into a critical supplier of resources for the British Empire. The timber trade spurred the development of new settlements, as laborers and entrepreneurs moved into previously undeveloped regions. The population grew from approximately 25,000 in 1800 to nearly 200,000 by mid-century, driven largely by waves of immigration from Scotland and Ireland.  

The timber trade also gave rise to a thriving shipbuilding industry. By the 1850s, New Brunswick shipyards were producing over 100 wooden vessels annually, both for export and for use by the province’s growing merchant fleets, particularly in Saint John. The province’s ships were integral to the transatlantic timber trade, helping to transport timber to markets in Britain and beyond. Shipbuilding became a major source of employment and economic growth, attracting skilled craftsmen and laborers from across the region. 

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s growth during the 19th century was shaped by its strategic location along the Atlantic coast. The province played a crucial role in British military and economic interests, including trade with New England and Europe. Halifax, as the provincial capital and a major British naval base, attracted both settlers and commercial investment. Economic diversification, particularly in agriculture and fishing, helped to stabilize the region, while infrastructure developments, such as roads and canals, improved connectivity within the province. The map reflects the expansion of townships and settlements during this period, coinciding with efforts to integrate Nova Scotia more fully into the broader British Atlantic economy.

Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island, part of Nova Scotia during this period, saw significant demographic shifts and industrial changes in the 19th century. After initially being settled by French Acadians and then ceded to the British, the island became a center of coal mining by the mid-19th century, particularly around Sydney and Glace Bay. The introduction of steam technology created a demand for coal, turning Cape Breton into a key supplier for the region. Immigration, particularly from Scotland, led to the growth of settlements and increased the island’s cultural diversity. The map captures the burgeoning communities and infrastructural developments tied to this industrial transformation.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island, known for its agricultural potential, particularly in potato farming, became increasingly integrated into the colonial economy during the 19th century. After years of tension between absentee landlords and tenant farmers, the island moved toward more stable land ownership structures by the mid-1800s, which encouraged settlement and economic growth. The population expanded due to both natural increase and immigration, with Scottish and Irish settlers playing a notable role. By 1841, the island’s administrative divisions and townships were more clearly defined, as depicted in the detailed delineations on this map.

Rarity

First issued in 1825 and periodically revised up to at least 1859, the map is rare on the market.

We note an example of the 1825 offered by Maggs Brothers in 1961 and a copy of the 1857-59 state of the map by Murray Hudson in 1992.

We also note the existence of a state dated 1845, bearing a note that it was "Published by Mr. G. Hardy, St. Johns, New Brunswick."  We note no chances from the 1841.