This map from David Ramsay's collection of historical maps makes very little sense when viewed from a traditionally dogmatic point of view. In fact, it doesn't make sense at all.
For this map to make sense, some kind of radical change had to take place in the history of the world. Why do we have such a map at all? Why is America (the inscription on the map - Americans) is in Russia, and Scythia is in Europe?
Antique hand-painted map from Anthony Finley's New General Atlas, consisting of a complete set of maps representing large sections of the globe, along with several empires, kingdoms and states in the world; compiled from the best sources and revised according to the latest discoveries, 1815 … "Atlas Classica; or Select Maps of Ancient Geography, both Sacred and Profane"
The cards were generally accepted and approved:
In the 1820s, Anthony Finley produced a series of excellent atlases at the then leading American cartographic center, Philadelphia. Finley's work is a good example of the quality that American publishers began to receive. Each map has its own characteristics, with crisp and clear engravings and very attractive pastel hand-shaded.
Topographic and political information is abundant, including countries, cities, rivers and roads. The 1820s were a period of significant development for the eastern United States, with large population growth, expansion of the transportation network, and political changes.
Because Finley was very concerned with depicting as modern detail as possible, his maps show this development in a graphical and most informative manner.
Finlay's maps provide an accurate and fascinating picture of the United States in the early decades of the nineteenth century. This is an excellent series of maps from the nascent American cartographic world."
Full title:
State of Nations in the Christian Era From Pinkerton on the Goths. Engraved for ancient Mayo geography and history. Atlas of Ten Selected Maps of Ancient Geography, both sacred and secular; With a chronological table of general history and biography.
Atlas of ten selected maps of ancient geography, both sacred and ordinary; with a chronological table of general history and biography. Designed to complement Mayo's Ancient Geography and History. Designed for use in seminaries, etc. Philadelphia: Published by John Mellish (sic), No. 49 South Third Street, and sold by major booksellers in the United States. 1815.
Maps copied from Wilkinson's Atlas of Classics. This edition became Finley's Ancient Atlas. Lucas also used many of these maps in his 1823 General Atlas.
The map is available for viewing here:
Reference:
John Pinkerton (February 17, 1758 - March 10, 1826) was a Scottish antiquarian, cartographer, writer, numismatist, historian. He has published many scientific works including "Thesis on the Origin and Development of the Scythians or Goths" and "The History of Scotland from the Accession of the House of Stuarts to the House of Mary"
Pinkerton was a renowned master of the Edinburgh School of Cartography, which lasted from about 1800 to 1830. Pinkerton, along with John Thomson and Company and John Carey, transformed cartography, replacing the elaborate cartouches and fantastic animals used in the 18th century with more accurate depictions.
Pinkerton's main work was Pinkerton's Modern Atlas, published from 1808 to 1815 with the American version of Dobson & Co. in 1818. Pinkerton maps are highly regarded today for their quality, size, coloration and detail.
