11 score and 5 years ago, on June 17, 1790, John Churchman’s Magnetic Atlas or Variation Chart was the first chart registered under the newly-enacted Copyright Act of 1790, which authorized federal copyright protection for “any map, chart, book or books already printed within these United States” for up to 28 years. Churchman’s chart took its place in U.S. copyright history alongside The Philadelphia Spelling Book, the first book (and first work of any kind) registered under the Act (see an earlier post on this subject here). Reposted from the History of Copyright Timeline at the U.S. Copyright Office.

Public domain, via the Library of Congress (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006frank31395//0068r.jpg).