Original engraved map of the American colonies (24 x 28 cm) published in London at the time of the French & Indian War. It shows the territories of many Indian Tribes, along with over a dozen English and French Forts. The territory of the "Cherakees", "Chikasas" and Upper Creeks with their towns and villages, including the site of "Tanasse" from which the future state's name derived. On the Cumberland River is shown "Walkers Settlement 1750," possibly a reference to the French Lick trading outpost and Dr. Thomas Walker's 1750 exploration down the Cumberland. What was later called the Tennessee River is named the "Hugehego or Akansea R[iver]" on which an upstream "English Fort"probably Fort Loudounis indicated. Browned overall, upper margin with a few small splits and reinforcements to verso, some dampstaining also apparent to verso. A remarkable map showing several early Western Roads and numerous English and French forts east of the Alleghany and Appalachian Mountains, in the regions that would become the focal point of the French & Indian War. It was issued in the year prior to the seminal map of John Mitchell, and based largely upon the work of D'Anville. The map was issued in The Gentleman's Magazine, a British publication that helped to normalise the use of maps in support of articles and features. Founded in 1731 by the prominent London publisher Edward Cave, a pioneer in periodical journalism, the magazine continued in print for nearly two centuries, finally closing production in 1922. The publication covered a broad range of topics, from literature to politics, and, from 1739, frequently used maps as illustrations. It was also the publication which first used the word "magazine" (from the French for storehouse). Cave wanted to create a storehouse of knowledge and he employed some of London's best writers to fill his pages, including Samuel Johnson, Jonathan Swift, etc. etc.
