Grierson's version of Moll's two-sheet map of the French claims in North America

MOLL, Herman.

A New Map of the North Parts of America claimed by France under ye Names of Louisiana, Mississipi, Canada and New France with ye Adjoyning Territories of England and Spain.
Dublin: George Grierson, c.1735. Coloured. Two sheets conjoined, total 620 x 1025mm.

A rare example of the Dublin edition of Herman Moll's heavily-politicised map of North America, on which Moll critiqued the French claims to territory in the New World. Although a close copy, it lacks the vignette view of an Indian village top left, and there are enough small differences in the details of the engraving to show this is a brand new plate.
George Grierson (1680-1753) was a leading Dublin publisher, 'Printer to the King in Ireland' from 1732, who issued Irish editions of 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'Paradise Lost'. He copied several of Moll's atlases, both large and small, although keeping within the copyright laws of the time. This map appeared in Grierson edition of Moll's 'The World Described', of which there is no known complete example in any collection. This is from the second of two known editions of Grierson's map, with the dedication to Ambrose Philips removed. We have traced one example of the first state on the market in recent years and none of this version.
Moll's map itself was based on Delisle's map of 1718, although he added information from the 'original draughts of Mr Blackmore, the Ingenious Mr Berisford now Residing in Carolina, Cap.t Nairn and others never before Publish'd'. Moll also marks the territory of the 'Charakeys and Iroquois, by much the most powerfull of all ye Neighbouring Indian Nations, the old Friends and Allies of the English', whom he describes as the 'Bulwark and Security' between the British plantations and the French.


Stock ID : 22697