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This exceptional twelve-sheet map is an invaluable historical document, perfectly capturing the complex political landscape of Revolutionary America.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.

Original colour. [USA3806]