This map in two sheets is the first chart published in America of the North Carolina coastline from Cape Hateras to Cape Roman. In reality it extends southwards to take in Charleston, South Carolina. Daniel Dunbiben was a merchant from Wilmington, North Carolina. He made extensive surveys along the coastline during the 1750s and had the intention of publishing an engraved chart. Evidence for this is an advert placed in the ‘South Carolina Gazette’ 23 September 1756:

“Capt. Dunbiben [has] proceeded in his Survey of the Coasts on North and South Carolina, as far as Winyah … but the Subscriptions are not sufficient to enable him to [continue]. Those therefore that would not see so necessary an Undertaking dropped, or imperfectly executed, may promote it, by calling at the printer’s and subscribing to the Proposals in his hands.”

Shortly after Dunbiben died his widow petitioned the North Carolina Assembly for £50 “for services rendered this Province, by her deceased husband Daniel Dunbiben in surveying and Making a map of the Sea Coast thereof”. In a reflection of how important the colony felt the map would be the Assembly went further and suggested £100 would be more appropriate. The chart was completed and offered for sale in the ‘Boston Gazette’ 14 September 1761:

“The Navigation on the Coast of North and South Carolina being very dangerous on account of the many bars, Shoals, Sandbanks, Rocks, etc. The late Daniel Dunbibin Esq: of North Carolina, has, at very great Expense and Labour, draughted the Sea Coast of both the Provinces in a large whole Sheet Chart of 33 Inches by 23; together with all the Rivers, Bays, Inlets, Islands, Brooks, Bars, Shoals, Rocks, Soundings, Currents, & c. … A few of the Draughts may be had of the Subscriber If apply’d for directly. Edmund Quincy Jun, Broker.”

Unfortunately no examples of this version survive but it appears the copper plates themselves came into the possession of John Norman who republished it in the first edition of the ‘American Pilot’, 1791. This was only the second marine atlas published in America after that of Matthew Clark in the previous year. Both are virtually unobtainable.

There is an extension in the lower left to enable the map to take in Charleston and the Governors House is identified at Brunswick. Another state was issued in 1794 with further coastal detail added. For the unrecorded edition of 1801 the lettering of ‘Dl. Dunbiben’ and ‘Coast of America’ in the title is now shaded. The map is adorned with ships along the coast with great detail in the soundings around the various bays and inlets. Many of the sands and shoals notorious along this coastline are rendered. The very style of the engraving is indicative of an earlier period supporting the belief that this chart is from the original Dunbiben plate.

Cumming (1998) pp. 52 & 282; Guthorn (1980) ‘Eighteenth Century Shore and Harbour Charts Printed in America’, ‘The Map Collector’ 12 pp. 24-31; Wheat & Brun (1978) nos. 575, 578, 580 & 589.