John Reid’s A General Map of North America Drawn From The Best Surveys (1796) captures a formative moment in the young republic’s understanding of the continent. Issued in New York as part of Reid’s American Atlas—the second atlas published in the United States—it stands among the earliest atlas maps of North America produced on American soil. The engraved composition balances political delineation with topographic clarity, while a refined cartouche announces the title and imprint with period elegance. Spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico to the northern reaches of Canada, the map offers a sweeping, authoritative vista compiled from the best surveys accessible to an American publisher at century’s end.

Historically compelling for what it shows—and what it only begins to guess—the map predates the expeditions of Lewis & Clark and Zebulon Pike, freezing the continent at a tantalizing threshold of discovery. The Mississippi River anchors the interior, while the Appalachian chain marches confidently along the eastern seaboard. To the west, the Rocky Mountains emerge as an intuited barrier, their course sketched from fragmentary reports rather than systematic reconnaissance. Near present-day Salt Lake City, an expansive unnamed lake signals the era’s evolving knowledge of the Great Basin. Plains and valleys are indicated with a naturalist’s restraint, guiding the eye from well-surveyed corridors into spaces where speculation shades into blankness.

Reid’s political geography records a continent in negotiation. The United States stretches from the Atlantic cities—Boston, New York, and Philadelphia—south through Charleston and Savannah, and inland toward Nashville and the Mississippi’s frontier nodes like St. Louis. The nascent federal capital, Washington D.C., appears as the new axis of governance along the Chesapeake Bay, while the Hudson River threads commerce to the north. Across the Great Lakes, Detroit holds strategic position by Lake Erie; Lake Ontario glints further east. British Canada frames Quebec, Montreal, and Nova Scotia; to the south and west, New Spain encompasses Mexico and New Orleans at the Gulf’s vital crossroads. Indian territories are delineated with sober clarity, acknowledging Indigenous homelands at the center of continental diplomacy.

Coastal mastery contrasts with interior uncertainty. Along the Northwest Coast, Reid synthesizes the latest Enlightenment-era reports, reflecting the intensive late-18th-century attention to that contested shore. The Pacific littoral is crisply traced down to the Spanish strongholds of California, where the bay of San Francisco signals an emerging maritime gateway. By comparison, offshore waters carry fewer soundings, suggesting the limits of hydrographic labor available to an American engraver of the 1790s. The Atlantic and Pacific are boldly labeled, bookending a continent whose surveyed edges—Gulf of Mexico arcs, Eastern Seaboard inlets, and the great bays—are defined with confidence that fades deliberately as one moves inland.

For collectors and historians, this map is both artifact and argument: a consummately American statement that the nation could compile, engrave, and publish its own grand view of North America. As one of the first atlas maps of the continent issued in America, it marks the moment before the Louisiana Purchase and the epochal surveys that would recalibrate every boundary and mountain line. Reid’s composition preserves the diplomatic and geographic realities of the 1790s—colonial legacies, Indigenous territories, mercantile corridors—while foreshadowing the continental narrative to come. It is a rare, lucid vantage on North America poised between Enlightenment inquiry and the expeditions that would soon redraw its horizons.

Places on this map

• New York
• Philadelphia
• Boston
• Charleston
• New Orleans
• Mexico
• Montreal
• St. Louis
• Washington D.C.
• Salt Lake City (noted for the unnamed lake)
• San Francisco (notably indicated as part of the Pacific Coast)
• Quebec
• Nova Scotia
• Lake Erie
• Lake Ontario
• Hudson River
• Chesapeake Bay
• Detroit
• Savannah
• Nashville

Notable Features & Landmarks

• The cartouche with the title and publication details
• Major rivers such as the Mississippi River
• The approximate course of the Rocky Mountains
• Detailed geographic outlines of coastal areas
• Lakes and significant large water bodies, including a massive unnamed lake near what is now Salt Lake City
• Notable valleys and plains
• The Appalachian Mountains illustrated
• Indian territories outlined
• The Gulf of Mexico shown clearly
• The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans labeled

Historical and design context

• One of the first atlas maps of North America published in America
• Part of Reid's American Atlas, the second atlas published in the United States
• Predates the explorations of Lewis & Clark and Zebulon Pike
• Significant details along the Northwest Coast, but limited details offshore
• Political boundaries at the time, geographic features, and early explorations
• The transition from known territories to uncharted areas, reflecting the era’s geographic understandings
• Covers the entirety of North America, including detailed regions such as the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
• Clean, engraved style typical of 18th-century cartography, highlighting geographic and political features
• Provides insight into the geographic understanding of North America during the late 18th century and marks an important moment in early American cartography

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.