Rare Map of the Mid-Atlantic Issued Shortly After The 1783 Treaty of Peace.

A nice example of the Bowles & Carver post-Revolutionary War edition of Lewis Evans' seminal map of the British Colonies in North America, including early references to Petroleum along the Ohio River in several places on the Upper Ohio River.

Along with the maps of Henry Popple and John Mitchell, Lewis Evans map is considered among the most important and influential American maps of the 18th Century and is the only one of the three to have been published by an American. Both Evans and Mitchell's maps were intended to spur western expansion into the Trans-Allegheny, Ohio Valley and regions westward and in response to French encroachments.

Evans' map became the standard for nearly 50 years, being re-issued by Jefferys, Bowles, Kitchen and others. The map is a milestone both for its political significance and extension of cartographic knowledge in the region. Governor Pownall re-issued an updated edition of the map taken from the original Evans plate, with an addition of New England and a group of tables, naming townships in the colonies. Pownall had been a great supporter of Evans and pledged the proceeds from the map to Evans' daughter. The cartographic importance of the map and its place in the history of cartography are substantial.

The present example was published by Bowles & Carver. The most noteworthy updates on the map include:

• Completely revised title and removal of title cartouche
• Vermont appears on the map
• Completely revised cartographic details above Lake Erie
• The information on the Ottawa River has been extended much further to the West
• A western border is now shown running through Lake Huron
• Several annotations are removed or changed

This map has been described as one of the rarest editions of Evans' map.