Atlas Minimus, or a New Set of Pocket Maps of the Several Empires, Kingdoms and States of the Known World, With Historical Extracts Relative to Each,

Wood engraved frontispiece, 52 engraved maps with accompanying text leaves, bookplate to pastedown, preface and index present, contemporary green calf, rebacked, corners worn, 12mo, London, for C.D, Piguenit, 1792

One of the most attractive miniature atlases published in the eighteenth century.

Fourteen maps are devoted to the Americas, which was unusual at this time when it was normal for there to be an emphasis on Europe in world atlases. First published in 1758, this atlas has gone through several editions before the 1792 edition. In this edition the engraved title and preface, which were missing from the 1774 and 1779 editions, has returned. This copy is uncoloured as is usually found in later editions. Several maps have been updated, including the coastlines of Australia, New Zealand and North America completed on the World. There were text deletions on the South East part of Germany and South West part of Germany, with some boundary changes on the latter. The English and French Settlements in North America were retitled The United States of America and this new name now also appeared on North America (coastline completed) and Canada or New France.

A nice copy of an immensely popular atlas which was in print for over fifty years.

[John Newbery and his successors 1740-1814. 1973 (J146).]