This map was published in Mark Catesby’s book: Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. The map is based on a 1733 map by Henry Popple called “A Map of the British Empire in America with the French and Spanish settlements adjacent thereto.” The Carolina border is about one third of the way down from the northern-most border of Florida, which is at its present at approximately 31° north latitude. This is labeled “The Southern Bounds of Carolina by the last Charter” and refers to earlier British attempts to claim as their territory part of the peninsula, which then belonged to Spain. Louisiana extends along that line of latitude east to the Apalachicola River. The triangular shape of the peninsula was a common presentation. There are also limited place names. Catesby made two visits to the area and made numerous drawings of plants and animals which were included in his book. Of interest are a few Indian wigwams in north Florida and three houses beside lakes and rivers in central and south Florida.
Catesby (1682-1749) is sometimes called the father of American ornithology but he drew and described other animals and plants as well. His first work was published in 1731 and later editions were published until 1771. The book title gives credit for the map to Mark Catesby but it was actually created by Johann Michael Seligman, an engraver and art dealer in Nuremburg and it was originally published in the German edition of Catesby’s book in 1755.