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.

A sharply engraved map with tremendous coastal detail showing dozens of rivers, towns, forts, churches, and military batteries. Interior detail is limited to the expertly rendered topography. A legend below the title identifies anchorages for both large and small vessels. The map depicts Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, and the Iles des Saintes. The island of La Desirade is erroneously shown north of Grande-Terre, rather than to the east. This example has been updated with changes to many towns, roads, rocks, shoals, and anchorages - particularly at the southern tip of Basse-Terre, the the areas around Petit-Bourg and Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin. Published by Laurie and Whittle in a later edition of Jefferys' West Indian Atlas in 1796.

References: cf. Shirley (BL Atlases) M.JEF-4a #29.

Condition: B

A nice impression on paper with the watermarks of a large fleur-de-lis coat of arms and the initials "RG." There is light offsetting and toning and centerfold separations at top and bottom that have been closed on verso with archival tape. An edge tear at bottom that just crosses the neatline has also been archivally repaired on verso.