This is one of the most handsome, large-scale maps of South America. It is handsomely engraved with beautiful calligraphy and fine original color. It incorporates the most up-to-date geographical information on the continent, originally compiled from manuscript material by Louis Stanislas d'Arcy Delarochette, and updated to this, the fourth revision. There is an impressive array of settlement and topographical information. Naturally, the Amazon River Basin is featured prominently. Political boundaries are clearly in flux as much of the continent is divided among Spanish, British, Dutch and French jurisdictions. Three insets in the lower portion of the map present data from Humboldt's report in the form of topographical profiles: "Section of the Andes…," "Section of South America from West to East…," and "Section of the Road from La Guayra to Caracas." Also included is a comparative distance table and an index titled "Civil Divisions, Population and Extent" for Colombia, Peru, the United Provinces, Chili, Patagonia, Brazil and Guyanas.

The continent had been shrouded in obscurity since the initial Spanish explorations in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Humboldt's journey of the 1790s and his subsequent book, published in 1805, added much new data and stimulated new interest in South America, thereby creating a market for this map. Delarochette's map was first published by William Faden in 1807. This edition was published by James Wyld the year following his succession to Faden's business. This edition was issued separately as a case map, a format that today is far less common than the later atlas versions normally on the market. The map is sectioned and laid on linen with marble paper backs and matching slipcase.

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Condition: A

Some minor stains in map, but overall very good for a case map, with no fold separations. Slipcase and end papers are well worn, but fully intact.