Early state of Walch's rare map of America
The map provides an excellent treatment of the Northwest Coast of America and conjectural Northwest Passage, massive Quivira, interesting river system in the Northwest, predating the first report of Lewis & Clark's explorations, although with a detailed treatment of the information derived from Cook & Vancouver, including a depiction of the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands.
We have had the 1820 edition of this map, which has significant revisons in the interior of North America, but this is the first time we've seen this early edition. While certainly not a perfect example, the map is still quite collectable for its rarity and interesting historical cartographic features.
Johann, or Johannes, Walch (1757-1816) was a painter and engraver. He was well-known for painting miniature portraits, having trained in Geneva, Venice, and Rome. Walch published several atlases and sheet maps. As with his atlases, many of Walch’s maps were reprinted after his death.