Early American Maps from the William Reese Co.
- by Michael Stillman
Early American Maps from the William Reese Co.
Item 4 is A New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King of Great Britain on Ye Continent of North America. This is a 1731 fourth state of what is familiarly known as the "beaver map." This map was designed to show boundaries from a British perspective at a time when England and France were battling for territory on the continent. All land south of the St. Lawrence River is shown as British, the area north of New England labeled "New Scotland." West of James Bay is territory called "New South Wales," a name that would later be recirculated by James Cook to describe eastern Australia. The map became known as the "beaver map" as an inset image of Niagara Falls has beavers in the foreground, looking almost as large as the falls itself. $35,000.
The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.reeseco.com.