This volume is Henry Charles Carey & Isaac Lea's A Complete Historical, Chronological, and Geographical American Atlas, being a guide to the history of North and South America, and the West Indies: exhibiting an accurate account of the discovery, settlement, and progress, of their various kingdoms, states, provinces, &c. Together with the wars, celebrated battles, and remarkable events, to the year 1822. The work was published in Philadelphia 1822 by Henry Charles Carey & Isaac Lea.

The atlas features 46 folio originally hand-colored engraved maps of America mounted on guards. There is an uncolored mountain heights plate, hand-colored plate of the river lengths, and 4 letterpress tables. There is a letterpress title, advertisement, contents, and index. The work is bound in contemporary half black morocco over plain paper boards, rebacked with original spine laid down and corners renewed. It is housed in a cloth clamshell case with leather label.

This is the first edition of one of the most important early atlases printed in the United States. Fielding Lucas, the major Baltimore printer, was the principal engraver for the work. The atlas covered the areas of North America, Central America, South America and the West Indies. Each map is surrounded by text documenting the history, climate, population of that area. It is considered an indispensable American atlas and represented the beginning of the hand-colored commercial atlas business in the United States. It was particularly noted for its early maps of the states and territories of the United States. Of particular note was Stephen H. Long's map of Arkansa(s) (the American West) as it showed the trans-Mississippi West and the lands of the Louisana Purchase.


Paper Size ~ 11 1/4" by 17 5/8"

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections, offset, or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.