An extremely rare separately published two-sheet map by Robert Morden and Herman Moll. It was originally advertised for sale on 19 May 1702 in the ‘Post-Man’ and again on 28 May 1702 in the ‘London Gazette’. NO EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST STATE IS RECORDED ON COPAC. This is a fascinating work displaying a very short lived feature in the display of the mouth of the Mississippi River close to that of the Rio Grande. It is a beautifully engraved English map of the West Indies displaying it at a time when her power in the region was on the ascent. The map shows the routes of the Spanish gold and silver fleets in and out of the area from Spain. Numerous ports bear legends describing the method and timing of the arrival and departure of the Spanish fleet. Just off the north east coast of Hispaniola is a legend ‘Sr. Will: Peyps Platt Rack or Ambrochos’ marking the spot where Sir William Phipps in 1685 recovered a vast hoard of Spanish silver. A fine cartouche lower left depicts the loading of vessels with large hoards of gold and silver. We may also find one of Moll’s more famous legends in the Gulf of Mexico where he states “In this Gulf or Bay you may know what Distance you are from the Shoar by Sounding the Depth of water, and as many Fathom as you find so many Leagues you are from the Shoar”!

The map was published at the very beginning of the War of Spanish Succession (1702-14), a bloody conflict which was the first major European war to spill over into American territory. Up to now attacking the Spanish fleet was the domain of pirates and vaguely official attacks. The war brought on military action promising extremely rich rewards in the bargain. As Campbell explained “Early in the summer, two Spanish fleets would leave Cadiz, the main section heading via Cartagena for the collections points at Portobello (close to Panama), the other making for Vera Cruz. Forewarned of their arrival, the local authorities would have gathered the bullion from the mines of Mexico and Peru, as well as the cargo brought from the Philippines. The two laden fleets would then rendezvous at Havana for the homeward passage”.

The map had great influence being copied by John Seller Junior and Charles Price entitled ‘Bay of Mexico’ for the pirated edition of the ‘English Pilot Fourth Book’, 1703. The sole recorded surviving example is in the Newberry Library. It would also be copied more fully by Pierre Mortier with his ‘Teatre de la Guerre en Amerique’ issued shortly after. Morden died in 1703 and presumably his estate retained possession of the plate. This would explain why Moll went on some ten years later to engrave his own version which differs in displaying a more accurate delineation of the Mississippi River, and having a birds-eye view of Mexico City below the title. Originally the map was sold by Morden, Mrs (Philip) Lea, John Seller and Charles Price. It may have been intended to be included in William Hacke’s atlas as advertised in the ‘Post Man’ 5 March 1702. Here he proposes an atlas of 30 large maps of all the coasts of America south of California. It is believed this project was in partnership with our Robert Morden who died in 1703, hence its demise. Our map appears to be a later state where the imprint has been replaced by “Publish’d according to act of Parliament Aug. 1740”.

It is almost impossible to speculate by whose hand this edition was made. No example of the first state could be located. Morden died in 1703 causing quite probably the rarity of this item. His stock was taken over by Christopher Browne who in turn sold his interest to George Willdey sometime between 1712 and 1715. This map however appears to have come in to the hands of William Knight about whom little is known. A sole example of this state has been located in the British Library. The names of Seller and Price are removed from the original imprint. Moll died in 1732 and his stock passed to Thomas Bowles. As there is no imprint here it is pure speculation to suggest any particular person. Baynton-Williams ‘Los Britanicos estan Ilegando: British Interlopers in the ‘Spanish Sea’ and the Cartographic Record’, in ‘The Map Forum’ no. 11 pp. 42-8; refer Campbell (1981) pp. 60-1; Reinhartz ‘Additions to the Gulf and Indies maps of Herman Moll’, in ‘The Map Collector’ no. 43 pp. 27-30; Tyacke (1978) nos. 334 & 337.