Read's map of Napoleon's exile on St Helena, First State

READ, R.P.

This Geographical Plan of the Island & Forts of St Helena is Dedicated by permission to Field Marshal His Ro.l Highness The Duke of Kent and Strathearn By Lieu.t R.P. Read.
London: Burgess & Barfoot, October 1815. First State. Original colour. Dissected and laid on linen, total 460 x 590mm. With 'A Descriptive Sketch of St Helena to Accompany Lieut. Read's Geographical plan of the Island' pasted on the reverse.

Some wear to folds in linen.

Map of the island of St Helena, the South Atlantic island chosen to house Napoleon during his second exile because of the ring of high cliffs that would make escape a virtual impossibility.

This first state of the map, which was published to coincide with his arrival in October 1815, has the Governor's mansion, Plantation House, marked as 'The Residence of Napoleon'. In fact he never lived there: for the first two months he lived in a pavilion on 'The Briars' estate (almost the centre of the map) before moving to Longwood House. The poor state of repair of Longwood, situated on a damp and windswept part of the island, is reported to have shortened the former emperor's life.

The three later states of the map were changed as he moved around the island.


Stock ID : 22660