The rare first issue of an important American atlas in fine original colour

A fine example of an early American atlas, which includes maps of 27 American states and territories on 24 plates and town plans of New York, Philadelphia and Washington. The plate compares river lengths and mountain heights. The title vignette depicts the arrival of Columbus in the New World. Tanner produced this smaller and more affordable format atlas to reach a wider market, issuing the maps in parts from 1834 although many of the maps have 1833 dates. This atlas appears to be an early first edition, compiled from the parts: the traces of blue paper on the back of the New York plan are likely to be from a wrapper. A second edition of 1838 still used the 1836 engraved title, but the dates of the maps were changed to 1836 (for example the world map). Later editions were published by Carey & Hart (from 1842) and Samuel Augustus Mitchell (from 1846).