This is one of the earliest and most affordable English double hemispheric world maps from the ‘New General Atlas’, 1721. One interesting and notable feature of the map is the inclusion of faint lines displaying earlier knowledge of the various continents whereabouts. This shows up the advances in cartography that had been made to date and enhances the perceived accuracy of Senex’s map. Despite this however Senex still displays the idea that California is an island. The Mississippi River is also placed too far to the west. The whole is ornately decorated with four varying projections in each corner and is topped by an extremely ornate title cartouche with female figures representing the four continents, that of Europe is busy mapping the world. This part is uncoloured as it should be in the atlas. It is dedicated to the Prince of Wales, later to become King George II. The bottom of the map bears figures of Atlas and Hercules supporting an armillary sphere.

John Senex (c.1678-d.1740) was geographer to Queen Anne and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He began his career as a book seller later becoming an engraver and publisher. In 1714 he published the large folio “English Atlas” which was followed by the folio “New General Atlas” of 1721 offered here. The proposal for the atlas was advertised in the “London Gazette” for 14–18 October 1718, announcing its publication “shall be finished by Easter Term next”. It did not appear until 1721. It is one of the earliest of all English world atlases and is particularly noted for its American content. Sabin noted that the atlas was “chiefly interesting for the copiousness of its information concerning America”. Sanderson (1971) 434; Shirley (2004) T.SEN-2a, no. 1; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).