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 and judicious observations of engineers De Brahm and Romans; Cook, Jackson, and Collett; Maj. Holland, and other officers

London: Printed for R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1776. Titlepage, 2pp. dedication to "Gov. Pownall," 2pp. "Advertisement," 1p. "List of maps"; and six folding engraved maps, all hand-colored in outline. Contemporary calf-backed marbled paper covered boards, some wear with minor losses to leather and marbled paper. Cellotape stains at folds of the final three maps, minor separations at some folds. Provenance: John Suetterle Taylor. Titlepage, 2pp. dedication to "Gov. Pownall," 2pp. "Advertisement," 1p. "List of maps"; and six folding engraved maps, all hand-colored in outline. The "Holster Atlas" was issued at the suggestion of Gov. George Pownall and included the "maps that the British high command regarded as providing essential topographical information in the most convenient form" (Schwartz & Ehrenberg). This collection of maps was published by Sayer and Bennet at the beginning of the Revolution for the use of British officers. "Surveys and Topographical Charts being fit only for a Library, such maps as an Officer may take with him into the Field have been much wanted. The following Collection forms a Portable Atlas of North America, calculated in its Bulk and Price to suit the Pockets of Officers of all Ranks" (Advertisement). Although the publishers claimed the atlas would fit into an officer's pocket, it was more usually carried in a holster and thus gained its nickname.

The six maps are as follows:

1) Dunn, Samuel: North America, as divided amongst the European Powers. London: printed for Robt. Sayer, Jan. 10, 1774. Engraved map, handcolored in outline, 13¾ x 19 inches.

2) Dunn, Samuel A Compleat Map of the West Indies, containing the coasts of Florida, Louisiana, New Spain and Terra Firma: with all the islands. London: Robt. Sayer, Jan. 10, 1774. Engraved map, handcolored in outline (14 x 19 inches).

3) A General Map of the Northern British Colonbies in America. Which comprehends the Province of Quebec, the Government of Newfoundland, Nova-Scotia, New-England and New York. From the Maps Published by the Admiralty and Board of Trade, regulated by the Astronomic and Trionometric Observations of Major Holland and Corrected from Governor Pownall's Late Map of 1776. London: Robt. Sayer & Jno. Bennet, Aug. 14, 1776. Engraved map, handcolored in outline (20 x 27¾ inches). First state. McCorkle 776.11; Sellers & Van Ee 143; Stevens & Tree 65.

4) Evans, Lewis: 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 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. London: R. Sayer & J. Bennet, Oct. 15, 1776. Engraved map, handcolored in outline (20¼ x 28 inches). Stephenson & McKee, Virginia, p.82.

5) Romans, Bernard: A General Map of the Southern British Colonies in America. Comprehending North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, with the Neighboring Indian Countries. From the Modern Surveys of Engineer De Brahm, Capt. Collet, Mouzon & others; and from the large Hydrographical Survey of the Coasts of East and West Florida by B. Romans. London: R. Sayer & J. Bennett [sic], Oct. 15, 1776. Engraved map, handcolored in outline (20¾ x 27 inches).

6) Brassier, William Furness: A Survey of Lake Champlain including Lake George, Crown Point and St. John, Surveyed by order of ... Sr. Jeffery Amherset ... by William Brassier, Draughtsman. 1762. London: Robt. Sayer & Jno. Bennet, Aug. 5, 1776. Engraved map, handcolored (28 x 20½ inches). Also issued as the first separately published map of Lake Champlain, this excellent detailed chart was based on a survey made during the French and Indian War, but not published until the Revolution. The map was issued in two states and is included here in its appropriate (and preferred) second state, illustrating the very first battle fought by the U.S. Navy: the Battle of Valcour Island, which transpired near present-day Plattsburgh, New York. Also included is an inset illustrating America's first naval battle, in which General Benedict Arnold, though forced back down the lake, was able to delay the British attempt to descend to the Hudson for that year. No mention, of course, is made of Ethan Allen's taking of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775.

An important collection of Revolutionary-era American maps. Fite & Freeman, A Book of Old Maps, pp.212-16; Howes A208; Nebenzahl, Atlas of the American Revolution, pp.61-63; Phillips Atlases 1206; Rumsey, p.311. Sabin 1147; Schwartz & Ehrenberg, p.190. Streeter Sale 73; Clark I:189; Reese, Revolutionary Hundred 45 (Inventory #: 367002)