Highly renowned Italian map of
the United States, published shortly after the Declaration of Independence.

This fascinating twelve-sheet map, first printed in 1778 by Venetian
cartographer Antonio Zatta, primarily portrays the United Colonies during the
American Revolutionary War period. Notably, it is the earliest known map to
distinguish the thirteen colonies under the collective title “United Colonies,”
a designation derived from the Declaration of Independence. The later term
“United States of America” would only emerge in 1781 following the ratification
of the Articles of Confederation.

Spanning from the Mississippi River eastward to the Atlantic coast, and from
New France in the north down to the Gulf of Mexico, the map provides a
comprehensive depiction of the major theatres of conflict during the Revolution
and the territories at the start of the post-revolutionary period. It includes
detailed insets of Bermuda, Jamaica, and the Florida peninsula, styled as
curling sheets of paper. The title cartouche, found in the lower-right corner,
is adorned with tropical foliage and a coastal scene. Though originally
produced on twelve separate sheets, the cartography is continuous and
seamlessly connects to form one large cohesive map.

Zatta’s work is directly based on John Mitchell’s influential 1755 map of
British and French dominions in North America, considered one of the most
important political and treaty maps of its era. Zatta updated Mitchell’s design
in 1778, incorporating original annotations and extensive new commentary
scattered throughout the map. These additions address significant events such
as the Revolutionary War, the Treaty of 1763, Spanish sovereignty over
Louisiana, and various land grants in the Carolinas and Virginia.

The map also marks major roads and geographic features while presenting a
distinctly pro-British perspective on territorial boundaries and political
geography, reflective of its role as subtle pre-war propaganda. This engraved
set was published in Zatta’s Atlante Novissimo, issued between 1779 and
1785, capturing a pivotal moment in North American colonial history.

This exceptional twelve-sheet map is an invaluable historical document,
perfectly capturing the complex political landscape of Revolutionary America.
It is a must-have for collectors and historians alike, offering a rare glimpse
into the earliest cartographic representation of the United Colonies at a
defining moment in history.