Bowles’s new one sheet map of Asia, divided into its Empires, Kingdoms, States, and other subdivisions; laid down from observations of the most celebrated geographers.

London : Bowles and Carver, 1801. Engraved map with original hand colouring, laid on wood and dissected, three blank replacement pieces (the lost pieces in the regions of Java, Sumatra and Hokkaido), the assembled map measuring 485 x 582 mm, housed in the original cedar box with sliding lid, letterpress title label.

A fine early jigsaw map of Asia and the Pacific that includes details of the northernmost portion of Australia as well as an additional inset map of the entire Australian continent, filled with historical detail. Van Diemen’s Land is depicted distinct from the mainland with ‘Basses Str.’ clearly printed. Notable harbours and landmarks along the eastern seaboard include Bateman’s Bay, Port Jackson, Botany Bay, Cape Byron, Hervey Bay, Cape Morton and Cape York. The inset map records the sites and dates of early Dutch discoveries in Western Australia as well as William Dampier’s first landfall of 1688.  Bowles’s “New One Sheet Map of Asia” was issued in paper form several times with amendments. Perry & Prescott date the map 1801 (catalogue 1802.06), of which an example is in the National Library of Australia.