Burr, David H. An important work from one of the great early American cartographers

BURR, DAVID H. 

A NEW UNIVERSAL ATLAS; COMPRISING SEPARATE MAPS OF ALL THE PRINCIPAL EMPIRES, KINGDOMS & STATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND FORMING A DISTINCT ATLAS OF THE UNITED STATES CAREFULLY COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES EXTANT BY DAVID H. BURR. A NEW EDITION REVISED AND CORRECTED TO THE PRESENT TIME. NEW YORK: WM. HALL & CO., 1836

Folio (15 x 12 1/2 in.; 381 x 318 mm). Title page, 1p. contents list, engraved throughout, 63 hand-coloured engraved plates. Bound to style in half calf over original cloth-covered boards, gilt title to upper cover, green endpapers.

An important work from one of the great early American cartographers

David H. Burr was one of the most prolific American mapmakers of the 19th century. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he began his career leading a road survey through the southern counties of New York for the purpose of building a highway. This led to his being given, in 1829, the responsibility of revising Simeon De Witt's seminal New York State Map of 1804 (under De Witt's direction) to account for the considerable changes that had occurred over the last generation. This and the Atlas of the State of New York he published in 1829 established Burr's prominence in American cartography. The success of his Atlas of the State of New York persuaded him to aim at a wider audience and publish a general atlas. Ristow states that Burr completed only eight of the 63 maps by 1832 when his involvement in the project was severely curtailed when he accepted the position of topographer for the United States Post Office Department. His maps were engraved by Thomas Illman and Edward Pillbrow and they took over the responsibility for finishing the work, although Burr retained an editorial role, and he was probably able to make use of his new position which gave him access to geographical material sent in from postmasters throughout the land. The present work was first published by D.S. Stone of New York City; this second edition appeared in the following year.

REFERENCE:

Phillips, Atlases 1379a (1835 edition); Ristow 106 (1835 edition); Rumsey 2849

PROVENANCE:

W. R. Grace (bookplate)