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Carey’s 1800, Rhode Island
In stock
This “State of Rhode Island compiled from the Surveys and Observations of Caleb Harris” from 1800, is one of the first printed maps of Rhode Island, first published in in 1795 in Philadelphia by Mathew Carey. Drawn by Harding Harris and engraved by J. Smither, the map was based on direct surveys conducted by Caleb Harris, making it the most accurate depiction of Rhode Island at the time. It originally appeared in Carey’s American Atlas and was later included in subsequent editions of Carey’s atlases, including the 1796 General Atlas, and reissued as late as 1818. This map is notable for its clarity and detail, depicting counties, townships, roads, rivers, islands, lakes, and coastal features. It also includes inset street plans of major towns such as Providence and Newport. The American Atlas was the first atlas of the new United States and one of the first atlases to be printed in America. At the time, very few American publishers had the resources required for high-quality cartographic publication.
As the first Rhode Island-specific map based on local surveys rather than estimations, it marked a major advancement in geographic accuracy and became a foundational reference for the state’s cartographic history. It remained the most authoritative representation of the area until superseded by Henry Stevens’s 1831 topographical survey.
Condition: Good - age toning throughout, foxing
Map Maker: Mathew Carey
Coloring: Black & White
Year: 1800
In stock
