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Description

Fine example of the rare 1824 edition of John Cary's map of the United States.

Cary's earliest maps of the United States appeared bearing the date 1806. Over the next 20 years, Cary periodically updated his atlas to include the new Territories as they appeared, including Michigan Territory, Indiana Territory, Illinois Territory, Alabama Territory and Mississippi Territory. The only Territory west of the Mississippi is Louisiana. The map is filled with Indian Notes and details on Navigation, battles, important portages, etc. The Northwest Territory also apppears. Illinois is pushed off the Lake and Chicago does not appear. Many of the early roads in the Midwest and the Georgia-Alabama area appear for the first time. Florida is still shown as East and West Florida, but has assumed its proper Territorial configuration, having recently become a US Territory.

A fine wide margined example of this scarce map. Between 1992 and November 2008, when this map was posted to our website, we have offered post-1820 editions of this map on only 2 prior occasions (1821 and 1828 editions), which appear to be largely the same as this 1828 edition. The style and details of this map stand in marked contrast to the contemporary printing styles of French, German and American map makers of the period.

John Cary Biography

John Cary (1755-1835) was a British cartographer and publisher best known for his clean engraving and distinct style which influenced the entire map industry. Born in Wiltshire, John was apprenticed to an engraver in London. He started his own business by 1782 and moved to several premises before settling at 86 St James’s Street in 1820.

Cary had several significant collaborations during his career. John Wallis and Cary diversified Cary’s business to include broader publishing projects. Brother William and John made globes together, while brother Francis participated in the company’s engraving work. Finally, geologist William Smith and Cary developed and sold geological maps, some of the first of their kind. The pair also produced a notable series of county maps starting in 1819. Cary’s atlases, of English counties and the world, were the standard texts of the early nineteenth century. He was appointed surveyor of roads to the General Post Office in 1794, which led to the New Itinerary, first published in 1798.  

John trained his son, George, in engraving and George and his other son, John Jr., took over the business in 1821. It was then known as G. and J. Cary and continued in trade until 1850. The firm’s materials were then acquired by George Frederick Cruchley and then Gall and Inglis. By the time John died in 1835, Cary was the authoritative name in private map publishing and his business was a leader in the field throughout the first half of the nineteenth century.