This is Lay's rare, separately published wall map of the great Empire State. Lay first published this map of the entire state of New York in 1817, based on previous editions in 1801 and 1812 that only depicted the northern portion of the state. According to Ristow, the 1819 edition was the first revision of the map, with further editions in 1822, 1823, 1824, and 1826.

The map shows the majority of Pennsylvania, extending south to Philadelphia, and includes parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The map also provides a detailed view of the Canadian border just a few years after the United States declared war on Great Britain in the War of 1812. The map shows most of Lake Erie and all of Lake Ontario with the counties of Upper Canada well shown. It delineates the St. Laurence River to St. Regis at the US/Canada boundary. There is excellent detail of county development, roads, turnpikes, courthouses, forts, mills, Indian villages, battlefields, and iron works, identified by a key at top left. The "proposed" routes of the Erie Canal are shown extending to the Hudson River, with construction already having begun in 1817. The eastern end of Long Island is inset in the Atlantic. County development is up-to-date for 1818, with the newly organized Tompkins county, but prior to Seneca extending south into Tompkins in 1819.

Printed on 8 sheets, joined.

References: Ristow, p. 99; Rumsey #4455.000.

Condition: B

A nice impression with original outline color that has been partially refreshed and a few printer's creases at top left. There is light soiling and scattered foxing in the bottom half of the map, becoming more moderate in the top half. There are professional repairs to a few small holes, primarily in northeast Pennsylvania. There are some tears and cracks (mostly 1" to 4" in length, with one 6" crack at top right) that have also been professionally repaired. Margins have been extended a bit to accommodate framing.