Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
Stock# 51828
Description

First Published Edition of Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, with the Only Map Attributed to Thomas Jefferson.

Engraved folding map, folding table. [4], viii, 190, [6], 197-387, 288-290, [5, errata] pages of French text (i.e., complete).

8vo, 8 x 4.75 inches, contemporary full calf, flat spine with overall repeat gilt curl decoration, gilt red Morocco lettering piece "Notes sur la Virginie", very expertly rehinged.

Thomas Jefferson's iconic book had its roots in a questionnaire that was circulated by Francois Barbé-Marbois, a French diplomat stationed in Philadelphia. After serving as Governor of Virginia from 1779 to June 1781, Jefferson began writing his response to Barbé-Marbois. While serving as United States Ambassador to France, in Paris, Jefferson had his response privately printed for a close circle of friends. That private printing proved extremely popular, and Jefferson gave his blessing to this regularly published edition in 1786.

This, the first French edition, was translated by André Morellet with corrections by Thomas Jefferson. Unlike the privately printed Notes, this edition is the first to include Jefferson's famous map:

A MAP of the country between ALBEMARLE SOUND, and LAKE ERIE, comprehending the whole of VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, and PENSYLVANIA, with parts of several other of the United States of America. ____ Engraved for the Notes on Virginia.

Unusually, the map is subtitled with a description of its sources:

The country on the eastern side of the Allegany Mountains, is taken from Fry and Jefferson's Map of Virginia, and Scull's Map of Pennsylvania, which were constructed chiefly on actual survey; that on the western side of the Allegany, is taken from Hutchins, who went over the principal water courses, with a compass and log-line, correcting work by observations of latitude: additions have been made, where they could be made on sure ground.

The additions referred to in the last line of the caption seem to have been made by Jefferson himself, leading to the map being the only map attributed to Jefferson.

The key in the lower right differentiates towns, forts, courthouses, churches, private dwellings, county lines, and lines dividing states.

It is likely that this map is the source of all other references to Frankland and Franklinia to appear on maps, as there are no other maps published in America which include this ephemeral name for this region. Jefferson apparently intended to add county names, but was unable to procure a copy of John Henry's scarce map of Virginia. Jefferson arranged with Samuel J. Neele in September 1786 to have the map engraved, but the final version of the map does not include Neele's name.

Condition Description
Overall a very attractive presentation. The map on two sheets of watermarked paper, joined. Small closed tab tear. Very minor scattered soiling. Withal, a clean and very good example.
Reference
Howes J78 (“aa”); Pritchard & Taliaferro, Degrees of Latitude, 72; Sabin 35895; Schwartz & Ehrenberg 209; Verner 1786.