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The First Large Format Map of the State of Vermont Published in Europe
Rare large format map of Vermont, executed by Daniel Sotzmann prepared for Christopher Ebeling's Erdbeschreibung von Amerika.
Sotzmann's map include an immense amount of information. The state's natural geography is shown in surprising detail, including not only lakes and rivers, but relatively minor streams and even waterfalls. The Green Mountains appear prominently, with an exceptionally detailed treatment of Lake Champlain.
Political boundaries are shown, with county and town boundaries differentiated by varying widths of dotted line. Sotzmann meticulously plots the roads, industrial establishments such as mills and iron works, and public buildings such as court and meeting houses.
The map is testimony the Christopher Ebeling's remarkable research skills, as well as the fruits of his compilation skills, having corresponded with many important Americans who provided source material for his work. Ebeling and Sotzmann unquestionably obtained an example of William Blodget’s 1789 Topographical Map of the State of Vermont, as well as incorporating the work of Vermont Surveyor General James Whitelaw. While Sotzmann's sources for most information are clear, his treatment of Vermont’s topography is clearly derived from a different source, as yet unidentified.
Ebeling was a German scholar who undertook an exhaustive study of America. After studying the work of a number of engravers he selected Sotzmann to engrave a set of maps of the states of the United States. Unfortunately, due to an extended illness, Ebeling did not finish the project and only 10 of the maps were published. However, his Atlas of America has become the most celebrated of works. Walter Ristow states that only a handful of North American institutions have examples of all ten maps, making the series among the rarest cartographic Americana for the closing decade of the 18th Century.
An essential map of Vermont collectors.
Rarity
The map is very rare on the market. RBH lists 1 example (Sothebys 1986). AMPR lists an example offered by Old World Auctions in 2005.
This is the first example we have offered for sale.
