A plan of Boston in New England with its environs : including Milton, Dorchester, Roxbury, Brooklin, Cambridge, Medford, Charlestown, parts of Malden and Chelsea with the military works constructed in those places in the years 1775 and 1776
A plan of Boston in New England with its environs
Item Information
Title:
A plan of Boston in New England with its environs : including Milton, Dorchester, Roxbury, Brooklin, Cambridge, Medford, Charlestown, parts of Malden and Chelsea with the military works constructed in those places in the years 1775 and 1776
Description:
This most important battle plan of the New England theater of war shows, in detail, the American fortifications on Dorchester Heights forcing the British to leave Boston in 1776. This was the best printed plan of the city of Boston and its environs, to date. Finely engraved in aquatint and beautifully printed on heavy paper, this copy is one of perhaps six known examples signed in manuscript by the author. Pelham, a Loyalist, was born in Boston in 1748/9. The note that was engraved in the upper left of this map is a copy of the passport issued to Pelham two months after the Battle of Bunkers-Hill, giving him permission to examine the enemy lines. The aquatint is of interest, because of its high quality. It is known that Pelham consulted John Singleton Copley (Pelham's half brother) regarding the production of this map. Pelham was eleven years Copley's junior, and there is little question that Pelham learned to draw from his accomplished elder. The outstanding result is without question the finest cartographical print relating to the Revolutionary War.
Relief shown by shading.
Depths shown by soundings.
Oriented with north toward the upper right.
Includes facsimile of pass issued by James Urquhart, town major, to allow free passage of Henry Pelham "to take a plan of the towns of Boston & Charlestown and the rebel works round these places."
Dedication "To the Right Honourable Lord George Germain ..."
Autographed signature of Henry Pelham.
Includes references to points of interest.
Notes (citation):
LC Maps and charts of North America and the West Indies 1750-1789, 935
Nebenzahl, K. Bibliography of printed battle plans of the American Revolution 1775-1795, 20
Phillips. List of Maps of America in the Library of Congress, p. 151