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 elegantly engraved map depicts the mountainous topography of western coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica along the Pacific. The map extends from San Miguel, El Salvador to just past the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica. Lake Nicaragua is prominently displayed with several small islands and five ships. Several early roads are depicted, as well as a number of erupting volcanoes throughout. This is sheet 14 of Jeffery's 16-sheet chart of the West Indies that formed the heart of the West-India Atlas, published by Laurie & Whittle in 1796.

References: cf. Shirley (BL Atlases) M.JEF-4a #20.

Condition: B+

A dark, crisp impression on a bright sheet with "R G" and fleur-de-lis coat of arms watermarks. There is faint offsetting and very light soiling. An archivally repaired centerfold separation just passes the neatline at bottom.