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This separately published map is a detailed 18th-century cartographic representation of Jamaica, produced by Thomas Jefferys, one of the foremost British cartographers of the era. Created with exceptional detail, the map showcases the island’s parishes, towns, mountains, rivers, and coastlines, reflecting the colonial British interest in Jamaica as an economically significant and strategically located island in the Caribbean.
The map divides Jamaica into its three historic counties: Cornwall, Middlesex, and Surrey, with parish boundaries meticulously outlined and labeled. Topographic details reveal the island's rugged terrain, particularly its mountainous interior, while numerous rivers are marked, flowing from the island’s highlands to the coast. Settlements, plantations, and natural features are labeled throughout, providing insight into the colonial structure and agricultural economy of Jamaica during this period.
Two insets offer detailed views of significant harbors:
The Harbours of Kingston and Port Royal (lower right): This inset focuses on the key harbors of Kingston and Port Royal, located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica. It provides an intricate view of the natural and man-made features of these harbors, including soundings (depth measurements) critical for navigation, channels, fortifications, and landmarks. The Port Royal area, once a thriving center of trade and piracy, is shown along with the bustling harbor of Kingston, an essential port for British trade.
The Bay and Harbour of Bluefields (lower left): This inset displays Bluefields Bay and Harbor, located on Jamaica's southwestern coast. The inset map provides detailed soundings, anchorage points, and coastal features, illustrating the bay’s utility as a harbor. The bay was historically significant for trade and naval activities due to its deep waters and sheltered position.
James Wyld Sr. (1790-1836) was a British cartographer and one of Europe’s leading mapmakers. He made many contributions to cartography, including the introduction of lithography into map printing in 1812.
William Faden, another celebrated cartographer, passed down his mapmaking business to Wyld in 1823. The quality and quantity of Faden’s maps, combined with Wyld’s considerable skill, brought Wyld great prestige.
Wyld was named geographer to Kings George IV and William IV, as well as HRH the Duke of York. In 1825, he was elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was one of the founding members of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. Also in 1830, his son, James Wyld Jr., took over his publishing house. Wyld Sr. died of overwork on October 14, 1836.
James Wyld Jr. (1812-87) was a renowned cartographer in his own right and he successfully carried on his father’s business. He gained the title of Geographer to the Queen and H.R.H. Prince Albert. Punch (1850) described him in humorous cartographic terms, “If Mr. Wyld’s brain should be ever discovered (we will be bound he has a Map of it inside his hat), we should like to have a peep at it, for we have a suspicion that the two hemispheres must be printed, varnished, and glazed, exactly like a pair of globes.”
![[War of Jenkins Ear in Florida and West Indies] [Harbors, Towns & Fortresses of North America, St. Augustine, Providence (Grand Bahama Island), Porto Antonio (Jamaica), Havana, Santiago (Cuba), Kingston, and Antiqua)]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/75642.jpg)
