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A 1750 map of Halifax, showing Nova Scotia’s capital shortly after its founding. This map was published only seven months after the settlement of Halifax by the British on June 21, 1749. This beautifully engraved map consists of four distinct cartographic images and a decorative cartouche. In the top left corner a vignetted map, (an extraction from d’Anville’s 1746 Amérique Septentrionale), shows Nova Scotia in its entirety, and the Atlantic coastline of North America, from Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island to Cape Cod and Rhode Island. A plan of Halifax, surveyed and drawn by Moses Harris, and an inset “Explanation” key with itemized descriptions of the shown locations, occupy the top right corner. The main and central part of the layout is allotted to a detailed chart of the Halifax Harbour with soundings, showing the “Mouth of the Harbour”, “Cornwallis Island” (McNabs Island), “Harbour of Chebucto” and “Bedford, formerly called Torrington Bay”(Bedford Basin). The harbor chart is oriented with SW at the top. The lower left area is occupied by a windrose and a beautifully drawn and engraved cartouche, featuring the Union Jack, a cannon, oar, rope, and men building a fort and mending fishing nets. A view in the lower right corner depicts the newly founded settlement of Halifax, as seen from “the top masthead” of a ship. Below the neatline the lower margin bears Thomas Jeferys’ signature sign-off line: “Printed for T. Jefferys at the Corner of St Martins Lane Charing Cross”. This is a slight variation of Jefferys’ fully colored map in our collection, which shows it in its first state, as opposed to the current copy which is uncolored and its main title has been altered. However, Jefferys kept the misspelled “its” in the title.
Map Title: A New Map of Nova Scotia with it’s Boundaries, according to Mr. D’Anville. Engraved by T Jefferys Geographer to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
Plan Title: A Plan of Halifax Survey’d by M. Harris
View Title: A View of Halifax Drawn from ye Topmasthead
Inscription in Cartouche: To the Right Hon.ble the Lords Commission.rs for Trade and Plantations. This Plate is most Humbly Presented by Your Lordships Most Obedient and Devoted humble Servant T. Jefferys
• Plan of Halifax, View of Halifax, Map of Nova Scotia, 1750, Moses Harris, D’Anville, Thomas Jefferys (II)
• Fine Art Premium Giclée (Gouttelette) Print (100% cotton 340 gsm fine art paper)
• Made in USA