(1749-1812), a rare and important southern map, [A Map of Virginia / Formed from Actual Surveys, and the / Latest as well as most accurate observations, By James Madison, D.D. / Late President of W.m & Mary College / With Extensive Additions & / Corrections to the Year 1818., 1818], [To the General Assembly of Virginia, This Map is Respectfully Inscribed by their Fellow Citizens, James Madison, William Prentis, William Davis, Proprietors], black and white engraving with hand colored landscape view of [The City of Richmond, Metropolis of Virginia] (typically found in the second edition), [Copy Right Secured Published Richmond Mar 4, 1808 / By the Proprietors], printed in six separate sections and then assembled, includes State of Ohio, State of Kentucky and portion of Michigan Territory, 41 x 71-1/2 in.; black painted frame, 55-3/4 x 80 in. 

Provenance: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (acquired 1990), Proceeds to Benefit the Acquisitions FundNote:

This extremely rare map was acquired by Colonial Williamsburg directly from a descendant of the printer. As such, this is perhaps the only known copy of Madison’s map to survive as it was issued in six individual sheets with uncut margins. The map was carefully assembled for exhibition by Colonial Williamsburg’s paper conservator so that it retains the margins. The fine condition of this example surpasses any other known copy of the map.

References include: [Degrees of Latitude, Mapping Colonial America], by Margaret Beck Pritchard and Henry G. Taliaferro: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Henry M. Abrams, New York, 2002.  Pages 308-311, with illustrations. "Aware of the need for a new scientific map of Virginia, Madison assumed the task of gathering data for the project.  His goal was to improve earlier observations of latitude and longitude, to ensure the correctness of newly formed county boundaries, to gather the most up-to-date information on the courses of rivers and bearings on mountains from regional surveys and to depict the state's boundaries accurately.", page 311.

very fine condition, with some waviness to paper, some slight areas of loss to edges of separate sections, slight toning to paper