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Description

Gold Leaf Heightened First State of One of the Earliest Obtainable Maps To Focus on the Charleston Region

First state of this scarce, highly detailed map of the area around Charleston, South Carolina (founded 1669), the first map of South Carolina printed outside of England.

Mortier's map is based upon surveys and manuscript maps prepared by Maurice Mathews and an extremely rare map of South Carolina by Thornton and Morden, published ca. 1695, which is generally regarded as the first obtainable map of the region around Charleston to appear in a Commercial Atlas.

The map extends from the Edisto River in the South to the Sewee and Santee Rivers in the North, centered on Charles Town and the Cooper River. While the title is in French, the map includes the names of dozens of early landowners around Charleston and along the coastline and the major rivers, extending far up the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, Goos Creek, Edisto River and Wando River. At the northernmost point on the Cooper River, the Santee Indian Fort, Faralaunes, and the Colleton's Barony are shown. Sir John Colleton (1608-1666) lost most of his property to the forces of Parliament, but was later knighted by Charles II, upon restoration of the Stuart Monarchy. He was a member of the Council for Foreign Plantations and of the Royal African Company which introduced slavery into British possessions in North America.

"Carolina was established in 1663, when Charles II granted the province to eight favorites (including Colleton), known as the Lord Proprietors, who had helped him regain the throne of England. The original grant included the territory between the 31st degree to 36 1/2 degrees north latitude, from Jekyll Island, Georgia, to Curritiuck Inlet, North Carolina. Two years later, the tract was enlarged to include the land between the 29th and the 31st degree north latitude, thus adding a large portion of Florida. The grant extended west to the Pacific Ocean" (Degrees of Latitude, p.93). Carolina was divided into two separate colonies in 1712, and South Carolina received its royal charter in 1729.

The map also notes a number of Indian Settlements and shows the early roads in the region. A marvelous example, in full original color. First state, lacking the plate number which distinguishes the 2nd state from the first.

An essential map for South Carolina Collectors.

Condition Description
Old Color, recently refreshed. Gold leaf applied to compass rose, etc.
Reference
Burden II, 768; Cumming 121; Kendall Early Maps of Carolina 17c:
Pierre Mortier Biography

Pierre, or Pieter, Mortier (1661-1711) was a Dutch engraver, son of a French refugee. He was born in Leiden. In 1690 he was granted a privilege to publish French maps in Dutch lands. In 1693 he released the first and accompanying volume of the Neptune Francois. The third followed in 1700. His son, Cornelis (1699-1783), would partner with Johannes Covens I, creating one of the most important map publishing companies of the eighteenth century.