The original survey work was carried out by the great surveyor of India Major James Rennell (1742-1830), “the father of Indian surveying” (Gole). Rennell was born in Devon and went to India in the service of the Royal Navy. He developed an early interest in surveying and upon the end of the conflict between Britain and France he took up service with the East India Company. At the time the company was very keen to employ good surveyors, as they were sorely lacking in accurate maps of the subcontinent. He was made the Surveyor General of Bengal. Around 1776 he returned to London in poor health and began the task of publishing his works. He became the official geographer to the East India Company. One of the first significant publications was the ‘Bengal Atlas’ in 1779. In 1782 he published his first map of Hindoostan accompanied by a ‘Memoir’ detailing how he had constructed the map. There were further editions and in 1788 an entirely new map was produced. Gole is unclear but it may be presumed to be the map found with this edition as it is here dated 1 January 1788. This edition of 1792 includes an account of North West India from George Forster’s overland journey back to England. Provenance: stamp to verso of folding map of James Mackay, the first Earl of Inchcape (1852–1932), he was a ship owner with extensive connections in India; Christies London 1 May 1991 lot 87 £198; private English collection. Cox I, p. 302; ESTC T2625; Gole (1978) pp. 75-81; Howgego R29.