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Description
Engraved map, 57 x 49.5, on a spherical projection, by Tomás Lopez, dated Madrid, 1794. On this map Cenizas occupies about the place it should, namely in the latitude of San Martin. This appears to be the earliest map published in Spain to show the discoveries made on the northwest coast by the Spaniards from 1774 onward, although no mention is made of the fact. Cook's discoveries are shown in part, and those of the Spanish expedition of 1775. The two maps of Bodega and Hezeta of the 1775 expedition were combined, and in all probability the map of Costansó was used for the peninsula. The map appeared long before the maps of La Pérouse and Vancouver, and in fact before Vancouver's were finished. The remarks in that work, therefore, about the backwardness of the Spaniards in showing their discoveries to the world was quite out of place. This map must be of great rarity. It does not seem to be mentioned by any one who has specialized either on López or on the maps of Spanish America. Gabriel Marcel, in his monograph on López, has no mention of it. According to him López was charged by the government in 1796 to render a report about the map of America which had been drawn and engraved in 1765 by Juan de la Cruz Cano. He began by investigating a manuscript map of four sheets which had been drawn by Captain Milhaud but found in it numerous errors. The minister had therefore ordered López and Cruz to draw up a new one. Due to differences between them the latter continued with work alone. This must have taken place some time after 1765. The map of Cruz had been published before 1796 and even before 1781, but the government had withdrawn it from circulation. The Geografía general was published by Tomás Mauricio López apparently in 1796.
Cartography Cartouche Continents Maps North America North America - Maps - Early works to 1800 South America South America - Maps - Early works to 1800 Western Hemisphere
Place
Atlantic Ocean Central America New Zealand North America South America Pacific Ocean
Source
Original map, 67 x 56 cm: Henry Raup Wagner Collection of Maps and Atlases, folder w829
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