Rare first edition of Morden's map of Virginia and Maryland. Beginning in the 1670s, the English fortunes in North America took a dramatic turn upward, resulting in a booming interest in the British American Colonies and, in turn, the issuance of maps to satisfy this interest. This map appeared in Modern's Geography Rectified, first published 1680. This is the first appearance of this miniature work in any form. Important and detailed miniature map of Virginia and Maryland with much detail on Chesapeake Bay. Lettered key in lower right corner to the different counties and regions of the area. Morden's map is in part derived from two of his own rare earlier folio maps (published with William Berry) c.1676. This map also succeeds Francis Lamb's important larger English outline, engraved for the 1676 edition of John Speed's Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World. All incorporated significant details from Augustine Hermann's milestone map of Virginia & Maryland 1673. Nice example with text on Virginia and Maryland below and on the verso. Papenfuse & Coale, p.18.
Robert Morden (d. 1703) was a British map and globe maker. Little is known about his early life, although he was most likely apprenticed to Joseph Moxon. By 1671, Morden was working from the sign of the Atlas on Cornhill, the same address out of which Moxon had previously worked. Most famous for his English county maps, his geography texts, and his wall maps, Morden entered into many partnerships during his career, usually to finance larger publishing projects.