Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
Description

An Early Florida Book with One of the First American Map of Florida

An important early promotional work for Florida, by a leading American cartographer who had served as Deputy Surveyor of the United States.

Darby's Map of Florida is the first printed map of Florida following its acquisition by the United States in 1818 and the only printed map to show East and West Florida as part of the United States, prior to the merger of the two Floridas and creation of Florida Territory in March 1822.

Engraved by Benjamin Tanner, the map includes insets showing Pensacola, Mobile Bay, and Espiritu Santo Bay. In addition to Florida, the map also shows the southern parts of Georgia (thus the inclusion in the De Renne collection) and Alabama. The Okefenokee Swamp is prominently labeled "Oke phanoke Swamp," and all the main rivers and lakes are also named. 

The text is a concise and enthusiastic description of the geography, natural history (especially native flora), climate and agricultural potential of Florida. On the native vines in Florida, Darby states: "there are in Florida three or four species, the most remarkable of which are: the muscadine, or fox grape; and the parsley-leaved river grape vine." 

The book includes the text of the Adams-Onis Treaty, which achieved the formal cession of Florida to the United States. At the end of the book is a "List of Maps and Geographical Works, Lately Published and for Sale by H. S. Tanner," as well as an advertisement for Benjamin Tanner's allegorical print celebrating the independence and prosperity of the United States, "America Guided by Wisdom."

"A promotional tract for immigrants with brief notes on Pensacola and St. Augustine" - Servies.

An essential map and promotional tract for Florida collectors.

Condition Description
Octavo. Original printed publisher's boards, neatly rebacked with tan cloth. Folding map. vii,[1],[5]-92,[8] pages. Untrimmed. The usual tanning and occasional foxing on the text leaves. The map and front flyleaf are detached from the book. Map sheet with some very minor offsetting, else clean and crisp. A complete copy, overall in very nice unsophisticated original state.
Reference
Howes D-64 ("aa"). Streeter Sale 1203. Servies, Florida: 1061. Clark, Old South II: 197. De Renne, Georgia I, p. 374. Sabin 18532.