CAREY, H.C. and Isaac LEA. A Complete Historical, Chronological, and Geographical American Atlas. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1822.
Folio (445 x 295 mm). 54 maps, tables, and letterpress leaves, most with hand-coloring, including 46 double-page maps, mounted on stubs. (Maps of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Mexico torn along fold, a few other maps with tears to fold or margin occasionally crossing image, some repaired, some staining or spotting.) Contemporary half black roan, boards (worn). FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EARLY AMERICAN ATLASES, with most maps engraved by Fielding Lucas. "This was the first American Atlas that was modeled on Le Sage's plan of having explanatory text surrounding the maps. The maps are beautifully drawn and colored" (Rumsey). Lucas published his own atlas in 1816 and 1822 (see lots 80 and 81). Phillips 1373a; Rumsey 122.
