Click Here for Large Image
 

This chart is from the very rare Atlas maritimus & commercialis, or, a General View of the World... .   This atlas was a collaborative effort of a number of the leading cartographic and scientific people of the period, including Sir Edmund Halley, Nathaniel Cutler, Steven Parker, John Harris, John Senex, and Henry Wilson and Daniel Defoe.  The atlas was printed in London by James and John Knapton, William and John Innys [and 8 others] in 1728.   The attribution for the charts is often provided to Halley (1656-1742) as he was the leading figure in astronomy during this period.  Besides the discovery of the comet named after him, he is famous for numerous other discoveries in the field of science.

The atlas was conceived as a competitor to Mount & Page's English Pilot, but never achieved the same commercial success.  As such, the maps are rare.  We have not been able to locate another example of this chart on the market for almost 20 years. This chart shows the southwest and southern coast of Africa.  Of note, St Helena is at the top center.  It was on St. Helena that Halley spent several years after Oxford engaged in astronomical study.

Reference:  Sabin #29894.  National Maritime Museum Catalogue 3:341.  Phillips, Atlases #3298.  Specularum Orbis  Terrarum. Virgo. 1989. Item 121. 

Fine condition with full margins and a few small wormholes professionally filled.