A remarkable survival of a highly important extremely rare map in superb full early wash colour. It is in the first completed edition, one of only 8 early examples of the map recorded by Smith in his 1966 analysis of this map. There he equated it with Dr. John Mitchell’s iconic ‘Map of the British and French Dominions in North America’ published in 1755. He stated ‘Both were large, detailed, beautifully engraved on copper, and based on careful compilation and discriminating use of source materials. Each one, the best map of its area, which published in several editions and was not to be displaced for decades. They both were widely used and featured in diplomatic negotiations for a century or more after their initial appearances.” One notable difference however is rarity. Whilst the Mitchell map is relatively available, the Cruz Cano map was suppressed and does not appear to have been seen at auction since 1970.

Smith identified four states of the map, the first of which is considered a proof. Of this second state he recorded only one example in the Servicio Histórico Militar, Madrid. One other has since been identified in the Rumsey Collection at Stanford University (6931.010). Smith identified two further variant examples of this state in Madrid in which some of the sheets are first state. The borders are engraved with differing lines keyed at the bottom of the map for colouring. None of the examples cited are in full early wash colour as intended and found here. Most surviving eighteenth century examples are from the third and fourth states.

DEVELOPMENT

South America had been divided between Spain and Portugal by the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494. Union between the two on the Iberian Peninsula between 1580-1640 reduced any conflict over borders but its conclusion raised tensions. The eighteenth century brought advances in scientific cartography and knowledge of the interior developed further. Much of this new cartographic understanding can be laid at the hands of the Jesuits.

The resultant boundary disputes led to the need for a more accurate map of the continent. The main driver of this work was the Jerónimo Grimaldi, 1st Marquis de Grimaldi (1710-89) who had been made First Minister of State to Charles III in 1763. Records survive recording early correspondence with a Spanish official in Paris requesting large sized paper which was not available in Spain ‘which is needed to print the plates which are being engraved by order of the King’. Dutch paper was acquired as it was a better quality for printing.

In charge of producing the map was Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla, (1734‐1790). He was born in Madrid; his elder brother Don Ramón de la Cruz became a famous playwright. Around 1752, with the patronage of Ferdinand VI he went to Paris with Tomás López to study engraving and mapmaking under Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville. The two of them initially worked together publishing a couple of maps in 1755, but López would go on to overshadow him as a mapmaker.

By 1767 an entirely new map was conceived. We learn that it was to be drawn from 62 maps obtained from the Secretariat of the Indies, although Cruz commented they were not enough. A considerable amount of work was put into assimilating all the data. This work was clearly influenced by d’Anville who is renowned for his careful attention to scientific data. The lettering was devolved to Hipólito Ricarte enabling him to focus on the geography. Smith’s research records in detail the payments made and progress on each of the eight plates.

PRINTING

It is estimated from the record of payments in December 1775 that the first printing was of approximately 15 most likely proof copies. These no doubt constitute the first state of which only two known examples survive at Harvard University (G5201_S12_1775_C7) and the Ayer Collection, Newberry Library, Chicago, which is cut and dissected. A larger run in February 1776 consisted of about 250 copies of which an unspecified number were also coloured.

The most important revision to the proof printing was the removal of the border between Spanish and Portuguese territories which ran through seven of the plates. The eighth plate is consumed by the title which remained unaltered through all the states. This careful removal was no doubt undertaken at the request of authorities as it favoured Portugal over Spain at a time when tensions were rising. Indeed, the Spanish – Portuguese War, otherwise known as the Second Cevallos expedition was fought in territory now in Uruguay. In the spring of 1776, the Spanish were preparing for negotiations with the Portuguese.

Based on considerable evidence Smith stated that the proof state was printed in October or November 1775, this second state in February 1776, and the third state late in 1776. The fourth edition was printed no later than 1802. He identifies just eight examples of the first two editions. Payment was made for the colouring of seven examples ‘perhaps presentation copies for the King’ (Smith). Smith concludes from the payment date that these were for the second edition. Despite the correspondence recording the acquisition of high-quality Dutch paper, he records only one known sheet in the second edition. Indeed, unhappy with the printing of the proofs ‘a better printing for the second proof suggests that he may have planned to use different paper for the printing in February’ (Smith). This example bears the watermark of the Dutch paper makers Van der Ley.

SUPPRESSION

Distribution of the map was clearly restricted to a close circle. One of the contemporary accounts supporting this comes from correspondence written to and from Thomas Jefferson from 1785. Jefferson was Minister to France at the time (1785-89), as a Republic the USA was not entitled to send an ambassador. He expended some effort to obtain the map commenting on the ‘difficulty and expense of obtaining an example because the map’s sale had been prohibited for some years, although he believed ‘that a few copies have got abroad” (Smith).

Jefferson wrote to William Stephens Smith, secretary to the American legation in London, on 20 August 1786 that ‘The government in Spain first permitted the map, but the moment they saw one of them come out, they destroyed the plates [clearly not], seized all the few copies which had got out and on which they could lay their hands, and issued the severest injunctions to call in the rest and to prevent their going abroad’ (Smith).

Apparently unknown to Smith is a letter I located in the National Archives written on 29 September 1786 by William Carmichael (1756-1825), first American minister to Spain, to Jefferson stating ‘The map I sent you cannot be purchased here. It was executed by order of Government and some copies given in presents to Foreign Ambassadors, when suddenly from Political Motives the Distribution and the Sale was forbidden. The Chevalier Bourgoyng can give you an ample detail on this affair. I hope one Day or other to see it in your house in Virginia.’ (National Archives).

There is also an argument put forward by López who stated that because the map was not beneficial to Spanish claims it was removed from circulation and discredited at the same time. Indeed, ‘There is no indication that the restrictions were relaxed, and all distributions of the map of which we have record (about 40 examples through March 1802) have involved written authorization from some official in the Ministry’ (Smith). It is interesting to note that Cruz submitted an invoice in July 1776 for colouring and ‘binding of 7 volumes of maps’ which Smith concludes were most likely those made available to the Consultive Junta appointed to advise the King and to assist Grimaldi and Aranda in preparing for anticipated negotiations with the Portuguese.’ Those negotiations resulted in the Treaty of San Ildefonso in October 1777.

Late in the century restrictions on the map’s distribution were lifted following further corrections to the plate. López and others praised the maps accuracy. Smith’s article overlaid the outline of the continent and river network over the American Geographical Society’s map from 1948 and found it remarkably accurate. A remarkable achievement indeed. For a long time, it continued to be used in negotiations: examples include border negotiations between Chile and Argentina in 1873, the 1897-98 dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana, the 1899 arbitration between Brazil and French Guiana in 1899, Brazil and British Guiana in 1903, and Peru and Bolivia in 1906. The map played a significant role in President Cleveland’s arbitration of the dispute between Brazil and Argentina over the Misiones region in 1894. Similarly in the boundary negotiations between Chile and Brazil with Argentina over Patagonia 1896-1900.

The whole map is beautifully framed, headed by the signs of a castle and lion representing the region of Castile and León set within a floral display extending the full width of the map. Upper right is the double-headed eagle symbol of the Habsburg empire with a flowing train holding aloft the arms of those ruling families in the Spanish colonies. The upper corners of the map include two large insets of Callao and Angostura. A large ornate title cartouche lower right features framed by a palm tree features the figure of America astride a crocodile. Provenance: Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Donoso (1963); Martinic (1999) p. 203, no. 125; National Archives (https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-10-02-0286); Ristow (1962); Smith (1966).