Thomas Jefferys was one of the most important English map publishers of the 18th century. His work included prints and maps of locations around the world, but his most notable maps are of North America and the West Indies. He began his career in the map trade in the early 1730s, working as an engraver for a variety of London publishers, and eventually setting up his own shop. In 1746, he was appointed Geographer to the Prince of Wales, and in 1760 he became Geographer to the King. These titles granted access to manuscripts and cartographic information held by the government. In the early 1760s he embarked on an ambitious project to produce a series of English county maps based on new surveys, but ran out of money and filed for bankruptcy in 1766. He then partnered with London publisher Robert Sayer, who reissued many of Jefferys plates and continued to issue new editions after Jefferys' death in 1771. Jefferys' American Atlas and the accompanying West-India Atlas, published post posthumously, are considered his most important cartographic works.

This superb facsimile atlas was published to commemorate the bicentennial by the Times Newspapers Limited in association with the Royal Geographical Society and David Paradine Developments Limited. The book was strictly limited to an edition of 200 copies, but oddly this book does not have a number. The original atlas was published in London by R. Sayer and J. Bennett in 1776. This reproduction edition duplicates the complete atlas and contains thirty hinged, full-sized maps, many of which are double-paged or larger folding maps. Each has been hand-colored with shellac inks to follow the style employed in the original edition. The book is hardbound using hand-marbled cover paper over boards with three-quarter dark blue goatskin leather. Gilt-lettered leather circular label and ruled light blue leather spine label. Slips into a matching blue cloth slipcase with a gilt-ruled leather circular cover label.

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Condition: A+

Contents and binding are fine. Slipcase is near fine with minor shelf wear and soiling.