An extremely rare separately published map of Virginia in its second and likely first published state. By the late 1600s demand for maps of the colonies, especially prosperous Virginia was growing. One of the most famous maps of the colony is that issued in John Speed’s ‘Theatre’ and ‘Prospect’ atlas published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell in 1676. The Speed copperplates came into the possession of Christopher Browne who had either acquired them directly from, or via Robert Walton. One example survives bearing a Browne imprint in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.

Christopher Browne’s date of birth is unknown. As the son of a gentleman from Yeovil, Somerset, he travelled to London most probably in 1683 following the death of his father, Robert Browne. On 5 June 1683 he was apprenticed to Robert Walton for seven years in the Merchant Taylors’ Company. Upon Walton’s death in 1688, Browne petitioned and was eventually made free, 2 July 1688. That same month he took over Walton’s stock, sign and possibly the shop.

It is believed that “Browne saw that the interest was high in this region but that there was a lack of maps to supply the demand. Augustine Herrman’s map of 1673 was too large for most practical situations; the only other competition known was that of John Thornton and Robert Greene issued c.1678. Greene died in 1688, and one can imagine that his death might have caused a disruption to the map’s availability. Browne’s own plate from the Speed was not the most accurate. Although it did utilise the superior nomenclature of Herrman, it relied upon John Smith outlines from 1612. The Browne state is exceedingly rare. The author believes he soon saw the demand for a more accurate map on the market. A quick search of the adverts placed by Browne indicates that the early ones were for material published in conjunction with a partner, often Robert Morden. The first on his own was in the ‘London Gazette’ for 19-23 May 1692. The author suggests a realistic date of publication of c.1692.”

“The map follows Herrman candidly and intelligently improves it with all of the developments along the Delaware without deviating from Herrman’s course for the river. All of the townships around Philadelphia are identified including ‘German Tonnship’. Jersey is split East and West as it was and the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, though depicted at 40 degrees latitude, favours Maryland around present-day Delaware. An awareness of the Raritan River system derives either from John Reid’s cartography, c.1687, or the manuscripts of Philip Wells which had made it to London. Some nomenclature is inevitably lost in reduction from the large four sheet Herrman. The whole is finished off with an attractive cartouche.” (Burden).

The engraver is unidentified but is believed to be John Harris. “Browne mostly sold maps loose, but is known to have bound them together to order. One such collection survives today in the Library of Congress; it is listed as a De Wit atlas but bears a Browne imprint on the title page. Browne continued in business until about 1712 when he retired back to Somerset and by 1715 his shop had passed in to the hands of George Willdey. No example is known with a Willdey imprint. Browne did not retire completely from the business, Tyacke records an advert in the ‘Daily Courant’ for 26 December 1720 for an edition of the ‘Geographia Classica’ that was printed for him, although sold by others. It is not impossible that he retained control over this plate also. However, by 1719 he had sold it to John Senex, who issued a third state dated that year which is included in his ‘New General Atlas’, 1721. References: Burden (1996-2007) 694; Hodson (1984) pp. 40-4; Morrison, Papenfuse, Bramucci & Janson-La Palme (1983) fig. 24; Papenfuse & Coale (1982) pp. 19-21; Phillips (1909-) no. 563; Skelton (1970) no. 116; Stevens & Tree (1967) no. 86; Tyacke (1978) no. 407, pp. 113 & 142.