Map/Chart > The Caribbean

The Virgin Islands from English & Danish Surveys

This is one of the earliest separately issued maps of the Virgin Islands and the earliest obtainable large format map to focus on the region.

Further Information

The Virgin Islands from English and Danish surveys.  Originally released by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to the King. London, in February 1775 for inclusion in his West Indies Atlas.  The chart presented here is a 1794 edition printed from the original plates and released by Laurie & Whittle.

This is every inch a classic chart.  It is beautifully balanced in its presentation of the Virgin Islands to the point where the Island of St. Croix is brought onto the chart where in fact it is located, at this scale, much further south.  To complete the effect Jefferys has done the same with the Leeward Island chain of Islands; Anguilla, St. Martins, St. Christopher's (St. Kitts), Saba and St. Eustatia. The eastern end of Porto Rico is also included.

In true maritime tradition (eleven) views of the sailing approached are included on the chart which offer pictorial view of the islands.  Jefferys also offers 'observations' as to ownership and history of all of the islands in a table at the bottom of the chart.  He marks several channels through the Islands, including 'Sir  Francis Drake channel', the King's channel, the Southern channel and St. James's channel.  Other hydrographical information included by Jefferys included (limited) soundings, reefs, rocks, sand banks and shallow water.  Always one for stylish presentation Jefferys entices the reader with reference to 'Treasure Point' in which he  notes 'So called by ye freebooters from the Gold and Silver supposed to have been bury'd there abouts after the Wreck of a Spanish Galleon'.  Also 'The Virgins Gangway of the freebooters'.   For reference St. John's in the (now US) Virgin Islands is located at 18.20'N 64.44'W.  St. Croix in the (now US) Virgin Islands is located at 17.44'23"N 64.44'20"W