Here we feature the elusive so called “Holster Atlas”, The American Military Pocket Atlas; being an Approved Collection of Correct Maps, Both General and Particular, of the British Colonies; Especially Those which Now Are, or Probably May Be the Theatre of War: Taken Principally from the Actual Surveys. This is the first edition, published in London, in the fateful year of 1776 by Sayers and Bennet, containing all the six maps as called for, all in first state. vi-viiipp. dedication letter and Advertisement + list of maps; with six folding engraved maps with original outline colour. Bound in original marbled boards with calf spine with green leather title label, the heraldic bookplate of Heinrich Johann, Freiherr von Gudenus dated 1891 on front pastedown.
Known as the ‘Holster Atlas’ this work was designed for British cavalry officers for use in the field during the American War of Independence. It was “calculated in its Bulk and Price to suit the Pockets of Officers of all Ranks” (from the Advertisement leaf).
The six maps here represent a distillation of what the British high command saw as the most pertinent topographical information for soldiers and, being issued at the war’s outset provides keen insight into how the British envisioned the war unfolding.
These comprise;
“North America, as divided amongst the European Powers”, and “A Compleat Map of The West Indies, containing Coasts of Florida, Louisiana, New Spain, and Terra Firma: with all the Islands” by Samuel Dunn;
“A General Map of the Northern British Colonies in America. Which comprehends the Province of Quebec, the Government of Newfoundland, Nova-Scotia, New England and New York” by Samuel Holland and Thomas Pownall (1776);
“A General Map of the Middle British Colonies, in America. Containing Virginia, Maryland, the Delaware counties, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With the addition of New York, and of the Greatest Part of New England, as also of the Bordering Parts of the Province of Quebec, improved from several surveys made after the late War, and Corrected from Governor Pownall’s Late Map 1776” after Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, and Lewis Evans;
“A General Map of the Southern British Colonies, in America, comprehending North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, with the Neighbouring Indian Countries…” after William de Brahm, Henry Mouzon, John Collett, and Bernard Romans;
“A Survey of Lake Champlain, including Lake George, Crown Point and St. John” by William Brassier.
It is a highly evocative volume, taking us back to the year 1776 and the American War of Independence and the army that crossed the Atlantic to take part in this conflict.
The volume was published by Sayer & Bennet of London in 1776. Robert Sayer had begun printing atlases in the 1750s and by the 1760s had developed a leading position in cartographic publications. With his business partner John Bennet, who had previously been his apprentice, they became significant publishers of maps and prints. They were ideally placed to publish this important series of maps for the British Army’s use in the American continent.
We are fortunate in being able to see a splendid “conversational” family painting of c.1781, by Johan Zoffany, now at the Paul Mellon Centre, showing Robert Sayer, his second wife, Alice and son James, outside their mansion, which is in the backgound, on Richmond Hill, London. The contrast of characters is interesting and perhaps pointed, Robert, the successful and wealthy publisher is nonetheless shown in a plain, rather older fashioned attire, his wife looking wealthy in dress and white muslin, holding her pet dog, whilst James looks quite the “modern” dandy in his stylish outfit.
So here we see an evocative memento of the controversial and costly war of 1775-83 when the thirteen colonies rebelled against Great Britain over their objection to Parliament’s direct taxation and its lack of colonial representation. How many officers carried these maps and consulted them is unknown, but no doubt they nestled in many a holster and overcoat pocket, so here we have a direct and personal link to the actions of those turbulent years.
