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Cartouche of Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson's
A Map of the most Inhabited parts of Virginia, London, 1768

A cartouche is defined as "a structure or figure, often in the shape of an oval shield or oblong scroll, used as an architectural or graphic ornament or to bear a design or inscription."1 The art of cartouche originated in Ancient Egypt as a hieroglyphic symbol representing a pharaoh's name. Over time it evolved to refer to a design that would surround the dedication, title, or scale on a map. Many of the early map cartouches were purley decorative or told stories to give a mental image of the location drawn on the map.

By the late seventeenth century and early eighteenth century, mapmakers from France began adding baroque elements to their cartouches and the etchings became more refined and detailed. The British added scenes of the place portrayed on the map. For example, the cartouche may depict a mountain, waterfall, or lake showing the topographical features of the place.

The cartouche of Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson's A Map of the most Inhabited parts of Virginia was designed by artist Francis Hayman and reveals many important details. A brief scan reveals a wharf scene showing a tobacco planter negotiating with a ship's captain. Upon closer examination, one can see that the elaborate cartouche emphasizes Virginia's dependence on a tobacco economy based on chattel slavery. Because of the major rivers in the Chesapeake area, hogsheads of tobacco could be loaded by slaves directly from the wharves onto the ships, thus reducing additional costs of transporting the goods overland. This system of rivers and tributaries also allowed the larger plantation owners to negotiate with the ships' captains from their plantation docks. The laboring slaves represent the manpower required to cultivate the labor-intensive cash crop of Virginia.

Beneath the illustration on the cartouche is the dedication:

"To the Right Honourable, George Dunk Earl of Halifax First Lord Commissioner;
and to the Rest of the Right Honourable and Honourable commissioners, for TRADE and PLANTATIONS. This Map is most humbly Inscribed to their Lordship's,
By their Lordship's
Most Obedient & most devoted humble Serv.t Tho. Jefferys"

In 1748 George Montague Dunk, Earl of Halifax, was the president of the Board of Trade and Plantations. During this time Dunk requested information from the individual colonies in regards to the activities on the English frontiers. Lewis Burwell, the acting governor, commissioned Colonel Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson to prepare a map of the Virginia colony. In 1752, the material was transferred to Thomas Jefferys, geographer to the Prince of Wales, for engraving and printing. The map was first published in 1754.

As our world has become more scientific and technology-oriented, so too have our maps. Gone are the elaborate designs depicting stories and images of native people using decorative elements. Maps have become strictly utilitarian.

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 Links to more information:

http://www.history.org/history/museums/online_exhibits.cfm

http://www.lewis-clark.org

1http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=cartouche


This article was written by Lori Clock, elementary school teacher, La Mirada, CA.