Degrees of Latitude: Mapping Colonial America (Williamsburg Decorative Arts Series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Celebrated for their rarity, historical importance, and beauty, the maps of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries in the collection of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation provide an invaluable resource for the history of settlement in America. In the colonies, maps were essential in facilitating trade and travel, substantiating land claims, and settling boundary disputes. Today, knowing exactly what maps were owned and used during the period gives us a much richer understanding of the aspirations of early Americans.

This large, handsome volume-a carefully researched cultural investigation-examines how maps were made and marketed, why people here and abroad purchased them, what they reveal about the emerging American nation, and why they were so significant to the individuals who owned them. Among the rare or unique examples included here are several maps that have never before been published. A must for map collectors and historians, this book will also be treasured by the millions who travel each year to Colonial Williamsburg to celebrate their American heritage.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810935392
• ISBN-13: 978-0810935396
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,307,543 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of the first degree, and I don't mean latitude, June 18, 2003

By A Customer

Anyone who enjoys historic maps, particularly of colonial America, will be extremely glad they purchased this book. I have absorbed most of the print off the pages, being careful to leave the innumerable high resolution images in the book for future enjoyment. Many of the maps illustrated are of such rarity that one will rarely, if ever, see them elsewhere.

The book has 5 main sections:
1. Claiming the Land covers 40+ pages; the maps illustrated in this section "tell the story of how Europeans took possession of the land in the New World by royal claims by discovery and exploration, by companies comprised of private investors..., or by wealthy individuals asserting personal holdings. The obvious way... to substantiate ownership [was] by illustrating boundary lines on a chart or map."
2. Maps as Symbolic Objects covers 10 pages includes numerous engravings or portraits from the colonial era in which the subjects are holding or studying maps, or in which maps or globes can be seen in the background.
3. A Selection of Maps from the Colonial Williamsburg Collection is by far the largest section, covering about 268 pages. Just a few of the notable publishers or cartographers works included in this section are Ortelius, de Bry, Smith, Dudley, Senex, Moll, De Brahm, (John) Mitchell, Popple, Fry & Jefferson, Mouzon, Faden...WOW, I guess I shouldn't try to name them all.
4. The Atlas of John Custis, 1698 covers about 80 pages. A very thorough and fascinating history of this remarkable composite atlas is followed by a complete analysis of the 94 maps and charts contained therein.
5. Philip Lea and the Seventeenth-Century Map Trade covers almost 20 pages and provides an overview of the actual "business end" of the map trade in the 17th century, and a detailed look at Lea's business. This is a topic frequently (and unfortunately) overlooked in many historical map related texts.

Are there any flaws? Not really. I did notice that on several occasions the "detail" images of a section of a map offered no better resolution than the full map image. This is more a compliment to the quality of the full map images than an insult to the "details." I believe the author's intent was to draw attention to a particular component of the map with the "detail" images, not necessarily provide "Hubble" resolution.

I have no reservations at all in recommending this book, regardless of how many map books are already on your book shelf. The illustrations alone (I counted 482,185) are justification enough for purchasing the book. But I also found the accompanying text equally fascinating and edifying. Reading the book is not a chore or a bore, yet provides a tremendous educational experience. Oops, I didn't mean to imply that educational books are usually boring, but I guess I did. And no, there aren't really 482,185 illustrations, but there are a boatload, and they are of superb quality. Enjoy the book!