John Hills (surveyor, active 1777-1819), William Faden (publisher), A Plan of York Town and Gloucester, in the Province of Virginia, Shewing the Works Constructed for the Defence of those Posts by the British Army, under the Command of Lt. Genl. Earl Cornwallis, London, 1785, engraving on laid paper with hand colored highlights, sheet (margins folded) 28-1/4 x 21-1/2 in.; black painted and gilt wood frame, 32 x 25 in.

Note:

During his career, Lieutenant John Hills (23rd Regiment of Foot) produced more than fifty maps, some of which depicted battles that he did not witness firsthand. Hills often borrowed from other reliable surveyors, citing them in his work. It is unclear whether Hills personally compiled A Plan of York Town and Gloucester or whether this was the work of another engineer. As publisher William Faden indicated in the title, the source was an actual survey in the possession of John Hills.

Literature: William C. Wooldridge, Mapping Virginia, figure 157, p.175.

Provenance: Property deaccessioned by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; all proceeds to benefit The Joseph H. and June S. Hennage Fund

hinged in on mat with archival tape, left edge trimmed at plate line, other sheet edges folded back and taped with archival tape, reinforced at center join line with archival tape, light wear and minor handling creases, small stain at upper left corner; frame with light wear and abrasions