World Mercator Projection 1860 Mitchell map Exploration tracks Capt. Cook

Map of the World On the Mercator Projection, Exhibiting the American Continent At Its Centre.

Issued Philadelphia, 1860 by S. Augustus Mitchell.

Interesting antique engraved and lithographed map with original hand color. These earliest era Mitchell maps are less common than one might believe. The 1860 atlas itself is now very scarce, any examples of this world map in such clean bright condition certainly being in the minority of those few potentially available at any given moment.

Interesting projection which places the United States at the center of the world at the start of the Civil War era. The U.S. Exploration Expedition under Wilkes which is shown on this map paved for the way for Perry to visit and "open" Japan up to the West but a few years later, shortly before this map was issued.

Close examination reveals numerous different named & dated exploration tracks across the oceans, including Capt. Cook.

Lake Torrens is a hook in southern Australia, a short-lived but significant cartographic inaccuracy. Center of Africa is labelled "Unexplored Region". Partial Antarctic continent outline highlighted for emphasis at bottom corners.

Original fold line as issued.

Sheet measures c. 23" x 15"

Engraved area measures c. 18" x 14"

[R21046].

Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers, v. 3, p. 260.