Carte du Théatre de la Guerre actuel entre les Anglais et les Trieze Colonies Unies de l'Amerique . . . des Etats Unis 1778
ÉLIOT, J.B. / MONDHARE, Louis Joseph

Carte du Théatre de la Guerre actuel entre les Anglais et les Trieze Colonies Unies de l'Amerique . . . des Etats Unis 1778

Paris
1778
Size : 71,5 x 53 cm
Color : Outlines Colored at the time
Condition : A
Technique : Copper engraving
Reference : 496-70
€14,500.00

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Description

The first printed map to mention the "United States".

After France declared its alliance with the Americans in May 1778, the French were quick to depict the American War of Independence. This map is published shortly thereafter and, as noted by Schwartz & Ehrenberg "It is the earliest known map to include the name "United States. . . . was published in Paris."

The importance of this map is also discussed by Margaret Pritchard and Henry Taliaferro:

"The map of the theater of war between Great Britain and America by J.B. Eliot is important because of its title, les trieze Colonies Unies de l'Amerique Septentrionale, may include the first reference on a map to the United States. The cartographer was identified as Ingenieurs des Etats Unis. On November 15, 1777, the Continental Congress selected "The United States of America," as the name of the thirteen colonies that formed a government under the Articles of Confederation. One month later, French authorities learned of the victory at Saratoga and decided to recognize American independence. By January 8, French foreign minister, Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, informed American envoys that France was ready to engage in an alliance. It is not surprising that the name United States was first mentioned on a map published in Paris in 1778.

Although the second state of the map referred to Eliot as an aide-de-campe to General Washington, no references to him have been located in the Washington papers. It is also curious that he did not indicate on the map the general's 1777 winter headquarters at Valley Forge, misspelled Walay Forge. What Eliot did illustrate were the lines' march taken by the British and American forces during the campaign in 1777, including Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Ledger's unsuccessful diversionary expedition down the Mohawk Valley, Burgoyne's march from Crown Point to Albany, and Howe's campaign to take Philadelphia.

As was usually the case, Eliot appears to have borrowed from several sources in compiling the geography. Some areas were designated by French place-names while others are predominantly English, specifically in the northwestern territories that the French knew best. It is clear they were aware of the latest intelligence relating to the Revolutionary War."

Barry Lawrence Ruderman identified 4 states of the map. Our copy in the third state, the first two being considered virtually unavailable.

Schwartz & Ehrenberg p.198, Pritchard & Taliaferro, Degrees of Latitude (58)

ÉLIOT, J.B. / MONDHARE, Louis Joseph