Browne retired around 1713 although according to Worms & Baynton-Williams he retained ‘some publishing interests’. His premises passed to George Willdey. It is notable that the first name in the imprint on the title page is that of a Daniel Browne. To date we have not found any relationship to Christopher Browne. It is suggested as many of the maps in the atlas are ones identified as having been in Christopher Browne’s possession.

John Senex (c.1678-d.1740) was geographer to Queen Anne and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He began his career as a book seller later becoming an engraver and publisher. In 1714 he published the large folio ‘English Atlas’ which was followed by this folio ‘New General Atlas’ of 1721 offered here. The proposal for the atlas was advertised in the ‘London Gazette’ for 14–18 October 1718, announcing its publication ‘shall be finished by Easter Term next’. It did not appear until 1721.

The atlas contains 34 double page maps of which three are the usually uncoloured town plans of London, Amsterdam, and Rome. Three maps highlight the rapidly growing significance to Britain of the colonies in North America. The first is entitled the ‘New Map of the English Empire in America’ and extends from Newfoundland to the tip of Florida extending westwards to the Mississippi River. It was first published separately by Robert Morden and Christopher Browne c.1698. Its date is derived from its presence in the Custis Atlas, a composite Philip Lea atlas whose compilation can be dated to 1698. The inset plan of Boston Bay is derived from Thomas Pound’s large-scale map of New England from 1691 surviving in just one known example.

A second map focuses on Virginia and Maryland and was first again separately published by Christopher Browne c.1692. Browne already owned the plate produced for John Speed’s atlas of 1676. However, that map drew upon the outdated model of John Smith from 1612. This had been superceded by Augustine Hermann’s four-sheet map of 1673[74] and John Thornton and Robert Greene’s folio map of c.1678. This was no doubt his improved plate to meet the no doubt increased demand for accurate maps of this prosperous region. 

The third is the first English map on Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. It is derived from Guillaume De L’Isle’s map of ‘Louisiane’ but as might be expected the reference to French claims in Carolina are removed. Whilst it also names ‘Tejas’ (Texas) it omits to mention New Orleans which was founded in 1718 and appeared in the second state of De L’Isle’s map. As Senex already covered the Virginia and northeast regions with maps in the atlas, De L’Isle’s eastward extent is limited. The map serves to highlight the significance of the region and the potential for control of the interior by using the natural waterways of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. ‘Chicagou’ appears on the southwestern edge of Lake Michigan, the highly important future portage between the two great waterways. The map is dedicated to William Law, possible a brother to John Law who was behind the South Sea Bubble. Also by Morden is that of the Golden Islands & Darien engraved by Herman Moll.

Not all the plates had a previous life. Indeed, at least ten appear to be new including those of Europe; Moscovy; Amsterdam; France; Sicily; England; Ireland; India; Africa; and Louisiana. This example is from the library of Thomas Cartwright (1671-1748) who became the longest serving member of the House of Commons and therefore the Father of the House. He extensively remodelled Aynhoe Park between 1707-11. Provenance: Thomas Cartwright (1671-1748), Aynhoe Park, Near Banbury, Oxfordshire; Franklin Brooke Hitchin April 2004; private English collection. Burden (1996-2007) nos. 694 & 750; Koyoumjian (2020) p. 37; Phillips (1909-) 563; Sabin (1868-1936) 79124; Sanderson (1971) 434; Shirley (2004) T.Sen 2a; Tyacke (1978) 407; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).