A reduction of the remarkable large wall map by De la Rochette, first published by William Faden in 1807. It was produced for inclusion in Faden’s large folio ‘General Atlas … of the World’. The map was originally constructed from the very latest Spanish and Portuguese data. This was a period of political tension and instability in Europe and South America which was contested over by the major powers. Trade with the continent was sought by both Britain and the United States whilst Napoleon was threatening invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Indeed, such was the threat to the Portuguese of invasion that King Dom Joao VI moved the Portuguese court to Rio de Janeiro in November 1807. It did not return to Portugal until 1822.

The map was first published in 1811, this being an example of the ‘Fourth Edition’ in 1823. The biggest addition over the previous state is a list of the ‘Civil Divisions, Population and Extent.’ lower right. It records the rapidly developing political situation in South American in which all but two regions became independent of their European powers in the period 1810-25. In 1821 Peru achieved independence and the borders are here defined. The Argentine war of independence had been fought 1810-18, Chile declared independence in 1818, and in 1811 Cartegena had declared independence. Brazil had only just achieved independence in 1822. A check on the states identified generated the following, there are likely further states at the hands of Wyld.

State 1, 1811. Dated ‘March 1st. 1811’.

State 2, 1818. Dated ‘Jany. 1st. 1818’.

State 3, 1820. ‘Third edition. Published Jany. 1st. 1820.’ added below the 1818 date.

State 4, 1823. ‘Fourth Edition’.

State 5, 1824. James Wyld, dated 1824. With the addition of Humboldt data along the bottom.

State 6, 1840. Dated 1840.

State 7, 1843. Dated 1843.

State 8. 1854. Dated 1854.

Provenance: Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Martinic (1999) p. 205 no. 149; Mitchell, Keith (2016) ‘British diplomacy and the independence of South America’, www.gov.uk; ODNB; Smith (1966); Worms (2004); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).