The Geography of The Great Solar Eclipse of 1748, Antique Astronomical Map

Fascinating map, issued in January 1748, predictively illustrating the path of the solar eclipse of July 14, 1748 across the Northern Hemisphere. Surrounded by 24 vignettes of the eclipse in various world cities. Published in ' A dissertation on the general properties of eclipses; and particularly the ensuing eclipse of 1748, considered thro' all its periods', by George Smith. As noted by Nick Kanas, the chart was published by the British Parliament in early 1748 informing the British public of the appearance of the solar eclipse of July 14. The creator, Thomas Jefferys (ca. 1719-1771), was a prolific map publisher based in London. His father was a cutler, but Jefferys was apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen, a prominent mapmaker and engraver. He was made free of the Merchant Taylors' Company in 1744. Jefferys was the Geographer to Frederick Price of Wales and, from 1760, to King George III. He is most known today for his maps of North America, and for his central place in the map trade- he not only sold maps commercially, but also imported the latest materials and had ties to several government bodies for whom he produced materials. Upon his death in 1771, his workshop passed to his partner, William Faden, and his son, Thomas Jr. However, Jefferys had gone bankrupt in 1765 and some of his plates were bought by Robert Sayer (1725-1794). Sayer, who had partnered in the past with Philip Overton (d. 1751), specialized in (re)publishing maps. In 1770 he partnered with John Bennett and many Jefferys maps were republished by the duo.