Driving And Cycling Road Map Of The Bermuda Islands

FARNSWORTH, J. M. [COMPILED BY]

Publication: Privately printed, 1892, New York

First edition. 11" x 28" folding lithograph map housed in an original quarter cloth and pictorial boards. An attractive and unrecorded map of Bermuda, showing major driving and cycling routes on the island at the end of the 19th century. Though the map is undated, Goldthwaite's Geographical Magazine published a review of the map in its October 1892 issue, which reads thus: "Evidently the 'cycler has invaded the Bermudas. J. M. Farnsworth, a well-known 'cycler, while taking a few weeks of rest at these islands, seems to have obtained the same by making a very unique driver's and 'cycler's map of these islands. Mr. Farnsworth is evidently an amateur at cartographic work, but he has nevertheless produced a much cleverer piece of work than is turned out by many of the professionals engaged in the same line." Although the reviewer states that Farnsworth was well known, we find no other information on his cycling activities. As the piece indicates, a key at the lower left of the map indicates whether roads are best, good or poor, and whether the grade is ordinary, steep, or "very steep grade, dangerous for wheeling." An inset map of Hamilton, the Bermudan capital, occupies the center of the sheet. The rear board advertises Gregory V. Lee, the proprietor of a Hamilton stationery store, as the "Sole Agent" for the map, while the front board contains an 1895 ownership inscription of Louise Williams, presumably a female enthusiast of Caribbean cycling. OCLC describes a "Second edition revised and corrected 1898," of which we locate two copies (at Yale and AAS), but we find none of the present, first edition. Former owner's small and neat inked name and date (1895) at top corner of front cover, one pinhead sized loss at fold point and light uniform tanning to the map, else near fine.

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