Item MS-2-836, Box 1, Item 3 - Island of Cape Breton

Emmanuel Bowen (1694-1767) was a Welsh map engraver and print seller. He was widely acknowledged for his expertise and achieved the unique distinction of becoming Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of Great Britain and Louis XV of France. His business was carried on by his son, Thomas Bowen. He also trained many apprentices, two of whom became prominent mapmakers, Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffreys.

John Gibson was a geographer and engraver based in London, England. He was apprentice to John Blunbell of the Stationers Company, and then to John Pine. Gibson proved a talented geographer and engraver who produced numerous maps, especially for books and magazines. He worked in collaboration with other map sellers such as Emmanuel Bowen and John Roque. His best-known work was the pocket atlas, The Atlas Minimus (1758). Although little is known about his life beyond his publications, he was imprisoned for debt in King’s Bench from May to June of 1765.