KENTUCKY. Russell. Dated 1794. 1799.
Map of the State of Kentucky; with the Adjoining Territories. By J. Russell, 1794. Imprint under bottom center: London. Publish’d as the Act directs, Dec’r 1794 by H. D. Symonds, No. 20 Paternoster Row. 17 ¾”w x 15”h. Uncolored. Reference Wheat & Brun for the American edition of the map, Map 646. Phillips, Maps of America, p.350. Right margin augmented. Image very good.

This is one of nine maps published in London in John Reid’s An American Atlas, and engraved by John Russell of London. The same nine maps were included in An Historical, Geographical, Commercial and Philosophical View of the American United States by William Winterbotham (1763-1829) published in London in 1795 and 1799 and in New York in 1796 (some by other engravers). Howes W581. Reid’s An American Atlas was meant to accompany the version of Winterbotham’s history published without the maps. The map offered here is from Winterbotham’s 1799 edition.

This very detailed map was the finest map of Kentucky produced in the early years of its statehood. Kentucky, which had been part of Virginia until 1789, was admitted to the Union in 1792, only two years before this map was first published. Relief is shown pictorially. Shown are mountains, rivers, lakes, towns, forts and land grants. The more recent towns of Louisville (settled in 1778), Lexington (settled 1779) and Boonsborough (sic), the site of a fort established by Daniel Boone, are depicted. Two towns depicted were planned but never built; they are Franklinville at the confluence of the North and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River and Lystra along the Rolling Fork of the Salt River.

The area at the upper left labeled “North Western Territory” depicts parts of present-day Indiana and Ohio.

KENTUCKY GEOLOGY MAP BOUND IN VOLNEY'S VIEW OF THE CLIMATE. Neele. 1804.
[Foldout plate (Pl. I.) showing the composition of the soil at various depths in Kentucky.] 5 ¼”w x 7 ¼”h. Lower right: S. J. Neele sculp. Strand. Very good condition. Engraved by Samuel John Neele (1758-1824).

Bound in C. F. Volney, View of the Climate and Soil of the United States of America: to which are Annexed some Accounts of Florida, the French Colony of the Scioto, certain Canadian Colonies and the Savages or Natives: Translated from the French of C. F. Volney. London, Printed for J. Johnson, 1804. 504 pages. With 2 folding engraved maps and 2 folding engravings. The book ends with an eleven-page “Vocabulary of the Miami Language.” Howes V141.

Foldout plate (Pl. I) above, found in chapter IV, “Internal structure of the soil”. Reportedly the first geological map of North America.

Folding map (Pl. II.): “Map of the Continent of North America to illustrate the System of the Winds and Currents. For Volney’s View of the Climate & Soil of the United States.” 10”h x 13”w. 4-inch tear at bound edge. Short split at one fold line. Engraved by Samuel John Neele. Shows wind currents and the Gulf Stream. Phillips, Maps, p. 596.

Foldout plate (Pl. III): “Fig. 1. Section of the Fall in the middle of the River” (Niagara Falls) and “Fig. 2. The Falls of Niagara with the adjacent Country.” Upper right: “Pl. III to face page 99.” Engraving by Joseph P. Bye. Volney visited the falls in 1796 and devotes the entire chapter to them. Phillips, Maps, P. 546.

Folding map (Pl. IV.): “Map of the United States of North America For Volney’s View of the Climate & Soil of the United States.” 16 ½”h x 21”w. Torn from stub but stitched to the remnant. Fold repairs. Engraved by Joseph P. Bye. Shows the Cumberland Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains extending to the Mississippi River. Gives the locations of southern Indian tribes and the numbers of warriors. Phillips, Maps, p. 874.

Constantin-Francois de Volney (1757-1820) was a historian and philosopher who left France in 1795 for a three-year stay in America. In his translated words, “I visited successively almost all parts of the United States, studying the climate, laws, inhabitants, and their manners, chiefly with regard to social life and domestic happiness.” Volney sent Thomas Jefferson at least two of his works including this one. In 1805 Jefferson wrote to Volney about the present book, contrasting European and North American climates and discussing yellow fever at length.

KENTUCKY & TENNESSEE. Mitchell. 1873.
County Map of Kentucky and Tennessee. Imprint: Entered . . . 1873 by S. Augustus Mitchell . . . Lower right: Drawn and Engraved by W. H. Gamble Philadelphia.. 13"h x 20" w plus ornate engraved border. Image in very good condition. Counties and boundaries in watercolor.

Railroads also shown.

MIDDLE STATES. BOUND IN COOPER'S INFORMATION. Conder. 1794.
A Map of the Middle States of America, Drawn from the latest and best Authorities; by Thos. Conder. Below bottom neat line: London. Published Aug’t 12th 1794 by J. Johnson, St. Pauls Church Yard. Above top neat line: Engraved for Cooper’s Information concerning America. 12”h x 18”w. Short tear at binding edge. Short tear left margin, not into neat line. Faint offsetting.

Bound in Thomas Cooper, Some Information Respecting America, Collected by Thomas Cooper, Late of Manchester. London, J. Johnson, 1794. 1st edition. Three-quarter calf and marbled boards with one-inch diameter ownership labels on boards. Embossed bands. Howes C760.

The map extends from Vermont to Kentucky. Much of the area is occupied by “Western Territory”. The map shows the new “Federal City” along the Potomac.

Cooper was born in England but came to America with part of his family in 1793. He returned to England in 1794 to pick up the remainder of his family, having decided to become a permanent resident of America. While there he wrote the book as a series of five “Letters from America to a Friend in England”, having been “pressed by so many enquiries respecting [America]…” that he decided to reply in print.

The map and book.