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Unrecorded Encyclopedic Broadside of World Knowledge -- Likely Printed by Peter Williamson, aka Indian Peter

Rare broadside published by an unknown author, although strong circumstantial evidence points toward Peter Williamson.

Williamson's life story (see biographical entry below) is quite remarkable and includes being kidnapped and sold into slavery in America as young boy, rising to some level of success in Pennsylvania, being captured and held by Cherokee Indians, and fighting in the French & Indian War, before returning to Europe, where he became both a celebrated entertainer with his stories of Indian Captivity in America and ultimately a successful businessman and publisher in Edinburgh.

The broadside lists approximately 300 places, a short note describing the size, location, major city, and a short note about its "Produce, Revenue, Strength and Religions."  The locations are focused on major points of foreign commerce, including many American colonies, Caribbean islands, East Asian and South Asian trading ports.  A few examples include:

• Bahama Islands -In the American Seas . . . Spanish and visited annually by their galleons, and one of them is fortified and planted by the British, callled Providence
• Carolina.  A British Colony in Nth America.  . . .This is one of the best colonies belonging to Britain and may be much improved
• California. An island or peninsula. . . A fertile country, producing everything necessary for life.   It is subject to the King of Spain.
• China. A mighty Asiatic Empire.  All things desirable in life, gold and drugs, china-ware, tea, etc. Pekin has 2,000,000 inhabitants.  . . . 
• Florida, a French American Colony. . . .
• Negroland.  Along the African coasts. . . . Produces slaves, Indian-Corn, cattle, fruits, gold and ivory.  They have many petty sovereigns . . . 

There is no date given for the printing, other than a note that the broadside was "Collected from the latest books of geography, geography and travels, by R.N., 1761."

The image notes that it was printed by J. Ruddiman, J. Richardson & Comp. and sold by W. Aitkin, Merchant in Edinburgh at the Dwelling-House of Mrs. Ann Roberts, in Blackfriars wynd; and by Jo. Mitchel, Bookseller in the Parliament-house.

Peter Williamson Attribution

We surmise that Williamson was the printer of the broadside for several reasons.  

The Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900 credit sWilliamson with publication of a work entitled A General View of the Whole World, published in Edinburgh, with no date given.  Kay's Edinburgh Portaits article on Williamson further identies the title of the work as A General View of the whole World;  containing the names of the principal Countries, Kingdoms, States, and Islands; their Length, Breadth, and Capital Cities, with the Longitude and Latitude; also the Produce, Revenue, Strength, and Religion of each Country, with a price of 6d.

Kay lists his earliest Edinburgh publication as A brief Account of the War in North America, published in Edinburgh, 1760.

Circumstantially, it seems highly likely from the similarties in the title that this is the same work referenced above, but we locate no surviving examples.

Rarity

This is apparently a unique survival.