Early map of South Carolina published in Reid's 1796 American Atlas, the second folio-sized domestically produced atlas in the United States.




This finely engraved map divides the state into counties, shows the developing road network, intricate river system and surrounding swamps or marshland, and charmingly illustrates the topography of the region. The Appalachian Mountains appearing in the northwest of the state. Along the rivers, mills are marked with a sunburst icon. Settlements of indigenous tribes are marked with small triangles to look like tents.

An error has been made with the scale of the map which has causes the state to appear larger by around 15% and elongated from north to south.



The cartographic source for this map is that of Matthew Carey's "American Atlas" published just one year earlier. This example was issued in Reid's "American Atlas", the much expanded companion volume to accompany William Winterbotham's work "An Historical, Geographical, Commercial and Philosophical View of the United States" published in America. An engraving credit has been given to Benjamin Tanner.



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