Burr’s New Universal Atlas – Volume with 63 Maps

This historic atlas with 63 maps is David H. Burr’s A New Universal Atlas; comprising separate maps of all the principal empires, kingdoms & states throughout the world, and forming a distinct atlas of the United States carefully compiled from the best authorities extant by David H. Burr. A new edition revised and corrected to the present time. The work was published in New York in 1836 by Wm. Hall & Co.

There are 63 hand-colored engraved maps, title page, and content list. The volume is expertly bound to style in dark blue half morocco over contemporary blue embossed cloth-covered boards, title panel blocked in gilt on upper cover, the flat spine divided into six compartments by single gilt fillets, lettered in gilt in the second compartment.

This Atlas helped establish Burr’s prominence in American cartography. Ristow states that Burr completed only eight of the 63 maps by 1832 before accepting the position of topographer for the United States Post Office Department. Thomas Illman and Edward Pillbrow engraved his maps as well as taking over the responsibility for finishing the work. Burr retained the editorial role as well as utilizing his new position to access geographical material.

David H. Burr (1803-1875) was one of the greatest early American mapmakers. He was born in Connecticut and began his career leading road surveys in southern New York. In 1829, he was responsible for revising Simeon De Witt’s map of New York State from 1804. He also served as the topographer for the United States Post Office Department.