An extremely rare, separately published, plan of the city of Philadelphia in its even rarer first state. “One of the most complete maps of the city in the 1790s” (Snyder). The map is based on the surveys of the French engineer Peter Charles Varlé who was only in Philadelphia during the year 1794. Varle was an engineer who emigrated from France and would become the Superintendent of the Susquehanna Canal Company. The plan was engraved by Joseph T. Scott who worked for amongst others Matthew Carey. In 1795 he would publish the ‘United States Gazetteer’ which vies with Carey’s own atlas as the first of the United States. It is quite probably Scott who was the seller of Varle’s plan. Undated, it was advertised for sale in Philadelphia newspapers in 1796.

The attractive map includes an inset of the State house, Library and the Bank of the United States, though the latter was still under construction at that time. There are twenty-four lettered and twenty-seven numbered references in a key on the left side. Being generous in size the map affords a detail not found in others of the time, indeed there are many more estates identified on the map than are listed in the key and not found recorded on any other map.

This example is from the collection of Constantin François de Chassebœuf, Comte de Volney, author of a ‘View of the Climate and Soil of the United States of America’, first published in Paris, 1803. Volney (1757-1820) was a French philosopher and politician. Of noble birth he became a friend of Benjamin Franklin. During the early 1780s he travelled in the Middle East and published his notes upon his return. He remained in a position of influence following the French Revolution being a member of the National Constituent Assembly. However he to fell victim to the Jacobin Club and narrowly escaped the guillotine. Quite probably this close call encouraged his visit to the United States in 1795 but even there he could not escape trouble. In 1797 he was accused of being a French spy by John Adams in connection with French interests in Louisiana. He was forced to return to France in 1798. The results of his travels in America were his book on the climate and soil entitled ‘Tableau de climat et du sol des Etats-Unis d’Amerique’ and published in Paris in 1803.

As discussed this map is extremely rare, indeed just TWO EXAMPLES HAVE APPEARED AT AUCTION IN A QUARTER CENTURY. Swann Galleries offered an example 30 March 2006 as lot 82. In modern colour it fetched $41,400. The last was at the recent Jay T. Snider collection sale 19 November 2008 lot 195 which was an uncoloured example backed on tissue. This example is in very good condition. Provenance: Constantin F Volney collection. Deák (1988) no. 200 (1802 issue); Phillips, ‘Descriptive List of Maps and Views of Philadelphia’, 177 (1802 issue); Rumsey 5006 (1802 issue); Snyder (1975) fig. 119; Tooley (1999-2004); Wheat & Brun (1978) 465.