LUCAS, Fielding (1781-1854). A General Atlas of all the Known Countries in the World. Baltimore: Fielding Lucas Jr., [1822].

4to (357 x 291 mm). Hand-colored engraved title, 67 hand-colored engraved maps (10 double-page). (Some scant spotting or offsetting.) Original half tan sheep, marbled boards, spine gilt (some wear, hinges starting).

FIRST EDITION. According to Rumsey, "this is a very unusual Lucas atlas - according to Foster, only two copies are known...[it is] extremely rare." Rumsey notes that Foster incorrectly dates this atlas as "early in the 1830's," which he refutes by comparing this atlas to the 1822 Carey and Lea American Atlas, with nearly half of the maps made by Lucas; in the present copy, 6 are earlier states, 4 are later states, and the balance are similar states. Additionally, this atlas includes the same "Prospectus" that appears in Fielding's 1815 and 1816 atlases, but which was dropped from the 1823 edition. Three maps in this edition are dated: Virginia (1816), Louisiana (1817), and Maryland (1819). EXTREMELY RARE: according to online auction records, no copy of this atlas has appeared at auction in the last 40 years. Foster p.190; not in Philips; Rumsey 4866; see Sabin 42611.