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ARROWSMITH, Aaron (1750-1823)

A Map of the United States of North America Drawn from a number of Critical Researches

London: "A. Arrowsmith, No. 24 Rathbone Place", "Jan 1st, 1796. Additions to 1802" [paper watermarked 1800]. Engraved map, period hand colouring in outline, printed on four sheets, joined to form two folding sheets. Sheet size: 50 x 58 1/2 inches, if joined.

The 1802 issue of Arrowsmith's important map fo the United States: the final issue published before the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition.

First published in 1796, the map was updated in 1802. Three issues of the 1802 are noted, this copy on paper watermarked 1800, with Arrowsmith's pre-1808 Rathbone Place address in both the imprint and the title, with Tennessee named as "Tennassee" only, and without the 22-line note in the lower left corner.

Aaron Arrowsmith was the founder of one of the leading London map publishing houses in the early part of the nineteenth century. He came to London about 1770 from Durham, his birthplace, and worked as an assistant to William Faden and later as a surveyor for John Cary for whom he carried out some of the road surveys which subsequently appeared in Cary's Travellers' Companion . In 1790, he set up his own business in Long Acre and soon established an international reputation. "Aaron Arrowsmith, Hydrographer to the King of England and Geographer to the Prince of Wales, was the most influential and respected map publisher of the first quarter of the nineteenth century ... His role in cartographic production was to gather the best information available from a wide variety of sources, weigh the relative merits of conflicting data, and compile from this the most accurate depiction possible of an area. " (Martin & Martin, p. 113).

Starting in 1796, Arrowsmith steadily improved the present map, incorporating the latest town names and geographical discoveries as they were made available to him: the present issue, for instance, includes "many new place-names and rivers", and by the time that the final issue appeared (in 1819 or later) whole new Territories and States had been added: the sequence forming not only a demonstration of Arrowsmith's working methods, but also a kind of time-lapse snap-shot of the development of the young nation.

Stevens & Tree, "Comparative Cartography" 79d (though this copy on paper with an earlier watermark) in Tooley, The Mapping of America.

#24971$18,000.00
 
 
ARROWSMITH, Aaron (1750-1823).

Map of America by A. Arrowsmith ... Engraved by W. West, the hills by H. Wilson.

London: A. Arrowsmith, No. 10 Soho Square, 4 September 1804 [watermarked "Edmeads & Pine / 1804"]. Copper engraved map, with period hand-colouring, on four sheets, the upper pair and lower pair joined (sheet size, if joined: 48 1/4 x 60 1/4 inches).

In apparently unrecorded intermediate issue of this important map, published one year after the Louisiana Purchase, on the eve of a decade of heightened activity in the American west.

Published just before the start of a decade of discovery: in the next ten years the map was to be largely filled in by Lewis & Clark, Pike, Long, and others. This map includes information provided by the various voyages to the Northwest Coast of America by Captain James Cook, as well as Vancouver, Mears, La Perouse and others. One of the most recent and important of the sources to provide information about the interior was provided by Sir Alexander Mackenzie's 1789 and 1793 journeys of exploration in the Canadian Northwest and through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. Early editions of this map (like the present example) also exemplify the level of information available just prior to the explorations by Alexander von Humboldt: Arrowsmith incorporated his findings in later editions.

The present map is an apparently unrecorded variant which falls between Stevens and Tree's 1(a) and 1(b) issues: the publisher's address is given as 10 Soho Square, but the map is printed on paper watermarked 1804. The Missouri River is shown extending north of its true source, and the Columbia River is also incorrectly located. In California, the Missions are named, and numerous Mississippi Valley forts are also shown.

Aaron Arrowsmith was the founder of one of the leading London map publishing houses in the early part of the nineteenth century. He came to London about 1770 from Durham, his birthplace, and worked as a surveyor for John Cary. In 1790 he set up his own business in Long Acre and soon established an international reputation as a specialist in compiling maps recording the latest discoveries in all parts of the world. He produced, and constantly revised, a great number of large-scale maps, many issued individually as well as in atlas form. After his death the business passed to his sons, Aaron and Samuel, and later to his nephew John who maintained his uncle's reputation, becoming a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society.

Goss, The Mapping of North America 70; Rumsey 2286 (1811 issue); cf. Stevens & Tree, "Comparative Cartography" 1a and 1b, in Tooley, The Mapping of America.

#24785$4,500.00
 
 
BAUR, C.F.

Neueste Karte von America.... New Chart of America showing the tracks and distances of steam vessels, with the distances to the principal ports of Europe, to the great Lines of Railway and the submarine Cables, constructed for the Use of Geographie [sic.] commercial.... Carte Nouvelle de l'Amerique...

Stuttgart: Julius Maier, circa 1885]. Tinted lithographic map, with title in German, English and French, with original outline colour, on six folding sheets, backed onto linen, and edged with blue cloth tape, in excellent condition, in modern blue cloth box. Sheet size: 63 1/2 x 48 1/2 inches.

A rare and highly detailed monumental wall map of the Western Hemisphere

This fascinating map excellently embodies the ethic of empiricist cartography that prevailed in the nineteenth-century. All of North and South America is depicted in great detail with very assured geographical accuracy for the time. A very attractive aesthetic effect is created, with landmasses tinted in a shade of orange, juxtaposed against the seas, which are coloured in a golden brown hue. The various political boundaries of the various states are outlined in bright, resplendent colours. The seas feature a wealth of hydrological information, most notably the great currents that traverse the oceans, notably the Humboldt Current in the Pacific and the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic. The lines of major shipping routes and the distances between key ports are also noted on the map.

The depiction of North America is most interesting, while the American west had by this time been settled in many areas, not all of its territories had yet been admitted into the Union as states. The Canadian Prairies are captured just before the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and the great wave of settlement that would result. The depiction of the Arctic is fascinating, as while the southern part of the Arctic Archepelago is charted, the most northerly regions, such as Ellesmere Island, are absent from the map, totally unknown to explorers. Alaska, which was purchased by the U.S. from Russia in 1867 is shown to be a complete wilderness.

The islands of the Caribbean are shown to be almost entirely under the colonial hegemony of the various European powers, and the nations of South America exhibit very different borders than the ones which we are familiar with today. Colombia still owned Panama, and straight, arbitrary lines mark the international boundaries in the heart of the continent - the still mysterious Amazon Basin. Bolivia is shown to own a piece of the Pacific Coast by the Atacama Desert, and Peru's borders extend further south than they do today. The map shows these countries as they appeared before the Pacific War (1881-3), during which Chile roundly defeated its northern neighbours, and seized three littoral provinces.

The map features six very interesting cartographic insets. In each of the top corners are insets of the polar regions showing both of these extremities of the globe to be somewhat enigmatic. Towards the lower left of the map is a detailed inset featuring the most populated region of the United States, the Washington-Boston corridor. Another inset depicts the elevation of the topography of North America, while towards the lower right of the map, another inset similarly details South America. A most curious aspect is featured in the final inset, an 'ethnographic map' of the Americas, which shows which parts of the hemisphere are inhabited by a majority of people of indigenous versus European ancestry.

#15162$3,500.00
 
 
BRADLEY, Abraham, Jr. (1767-1838)

Map of the United States Exhibiting the Post Roads, the situations, connexions [sic.] & distances of post-offices, stage roads, counties, & principal rivers

Washington, D.C. [engraved in Philadelphia by Francis Shallus]: [circa 1812]. Engraved map, with full period hand-colouring, printed on four sheets, dissected into 32 sections and linen-backed, as issued. Map size: 38 1/4 x 53 inches. Folds into original half roan over marbled paper boards, flat spine divided into seven compartments by single gilt fillets and lettered in gilt in the second compartment. Modern morocco-backed cloth box.

A monumental American map: this issue the first to be published following Louisiana statehood and in glorious full contemporary coloring.

The decade following the ratification of the Constitution was marked by enormous growth in the new nation. Perhaps the greatest reflection of that development was in the Post Office. In 1792 at the time of the creation of the Post Office, the nation included 6000 miles of post roads and 195 post offices; by 1800, just eight years later, there were 21,000 miles of post roads (a 250% increase) and 903 post offices (a 360% increase). "From the beginning, the postal system needed to be visually profiled in detail. Accurate 'working' maps were needed for planning and operating mail routes, setting pickup-and-delivery schedules, assisting postal workers in post offices and distribution centers in sorting, establishing new post offices, negotiating contracts with carriers, and educating Washington politicians responsible for overseeing the Post Office ... The task of creating the maps necessary to manage the rapidly growing U.S. postal system was assumed by Abraham Bradley" (Caldwell & Buehler).

Bradley, born in Litchfield, CT and trained as a lawyer, initially served as the clerk to first Postmaster General Timothy Pickering. Among his duties was to compile information concerning the various routes of the nation. By the time Joseph Habersham became the second Postmaster General in 1795, Bradley, who was retained as the clerk, seems to have been well on his way to producing his great cartographic achievement. Synthesizing information from both published maps (including Buell, McMurray, Carlton, Arrowsmith and Hutchins) as well as information drawn from surveys undertaken for the Post Office, Bradley published the first edition of his map in 1796. That map, on a scale of 1:2,400,000, depicted the country as far west as the Mississippi, showing the location of 450 post offices and their respective routes and including a large table titled "Progress of the Mail on the Main Line" at the lower right. Three distinct issues of the 1796 edition have been identified, published between 1796 and 1800 (Wheat and Brun 128-130); additionally the northeast sheet only of the map seems to have been issued separately in 1796, constituting a fourth issue. The differences between the issues is largely in the number of post offices shown as well as the changing geo-political landscape, i.e. the changing boundaries of existing states or the addition of new territories.

"Bradley's 1796 map was soon rendered obsolete. The postal system had grown from about 450 post offices as shown on Bradley's 1796 map to 1,405 post offices in 1804. More importantly, the 1803 purchase of more than 800,000 square miles of the French Louisiana Territory had markedly expanded the country. On August 29, 1803, Bradley wrote to President Jefferson, 'The great alterations which have taken place in the U.S. since my map was first published have rendered it of little use & I have for sometime suspended the sale.' A full depiction of the expanded United States and the inclusion of its hundreds of new post offices were essential for future system planning and route contracting ... The new map was designed on a larger scale and with greater dimensions than the 1796 map to accommodate wider geographic coverage and a denser postal network. In fact, at 98 cm x 132 cm on four sheets, it has over 50% more surface area. The expanded coverage encompasses the newly acquired Louisiana Territory as far as 19 degrees west of Washington, but the sparsely settled northern extremities of the United States (the Lake Superior country, for example) are not shown. The geography of the Great Lakes is more accurately portrayed and far more detail is shown in the West than on the 1796 map. The nation's expansion is indicated not only by the Louisiana Territory and its subsequent division into the Orleans Territory and the District of Louisiana (1804), but also by the new Mississippi (1798) and Indiana (1800) Territories. A small inset map of North America replaces the East Coast route chart included on the 1796 map" (Caldwell & Buehler).

Between 1804 and 1812, four issues of this map were published, again marked by additional information as well as changing boundaries. The present example is the 1812 issue, the first following Louisiana statehood, which is identified and separately coloured. Among other changes, Louisiana Territory is renamed Missouri Territory and areas of Illinois and Mississippi Territory are divided into plotted townships for land sales.

"Abraham Bradley's landmark maps are the product of the first nationwide mapping conducted by the Federal government - unique representations of a young, vital, and expanding United States. In terms of the Post Office, the maps were management tools of the largest peace-time organization in early 19th century America. The geography was current, interconnecting road networks were clear, many more towns were shown than on other contemporary maps, and the distances between towns gave a clear sense of scale. Abraham Bradley, through his organizational talent and his dogged dedication to the mission of the Post Office, helped bring an infant organization to operational maturity. The maps are evidence of that achievement. In terms of the nation, these maps lay open a picture of America's regional population densities, level of infrastructure development, and extent of settlement, thereby revealing much about the economic, cultural, and political characteristics of numerous regional subsections of the country. The Bradley maps stand as significant markers in the story of America's assumption of leadership of the mapping of North America..." (Caldwell & Buehler).

Caldwell & Buehler cite four complete copies of this rare 1812 issue: Library of Congress, Rumsey, University of Chicago, and the Clements Library. We know of but one other.

America Emergent 30; Caldwell & Buehler, "Picturing a Networked Nation: Abraham Bradley's Landmark U.S. Postal Maps" in The Portolan (Spring 2010); cf. Deak, Picturing America 212 (1796 issue); McCorkle, New England in Early Printed Maps, pp. 38-39; Phillips, A List of Maps of America, p. 874; Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers, pp. 70-71; Rumsey 2929; Schwartz & Ehrenberg, The Mapping of America, p. 222; Wheat & Brun, Maps and Charts Published in America before 1800 130 (note).

#25513$95,000.00
 
 
[BROMME, Traugott]

Neuste Eisenbahn - Kanal - u Post-Karte fur Reisende in den Vereinigten Staaten von Nord Amerika Canada, Texas sowie Californien ... Nach J. Calvin Smith, H. S. Tanner [etc.]...

Nurnberg: [circa 1860]. Folding map, dissected into 21 sections and linen-backed as issued, hand coloured in outline. Five inset maps or plans, including a large inset of the American West. Folds into period cloth covers. Sheet size: 21 1/2 x 28 3/4 inches.

Scarce issue of a highly detailed German emigration map showing the routes to the west.

The map depicts the United States as far west as Fort Kearny, with substantial portions of Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota shown in detail. As the cartouche suggests, the cartographic information is derived from J. Calvin Smith and H. S. Tanner. Various issues of the map were produced, with varying insets and detail, from 1853 onwards. This map shows Texas divided into counties dated between 1846 and 1852 (Wharton County is shown, but Orange County is not), West Virginia has not yet been separated from Virginia and much of the transcontinental railroad system is still proposed.

Cf. Howes N57; cf. Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West 775; cf. Wheat, Maps of the California Gold Region 274; cf. Phillips p. 903.

#26918$750.00
 
 
COLTON, G. Woolworth and Phelps & Watson

General Map of the United States of America, the British Provinces, Mexico, the West Indies and Central America with Part of New Granada and Venezuela. [with:] G. Woolworth Colton's New County Map of the Northeastern Portion of the United States with Canada etc.

New York: Phelps & Watson, 1862. Lithographic wall map, 47 x 43 inches, full period colour. Expertly restored, backed with modern linen, trimmed in burgundy cloth, on contemporary rollers. A few creases and a bit of expected tanning. Very good.

A handsome wall map, consisting of two separate maps, both drawn by G. W. Colton. The upper half is a general map of the entire United States from the second year of the Civil War. No acknowledgement is made of the seceded states, and there is even a table that includes the "Population of the Slave States for 1850 and 1860."

The lower half of the sheet consists of Colton's very detailed county map of the Northeastern States, which extends south and west to include Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota territories on a large scale. The depiction of Virginia is significant on this map. Issued between the time when delegates from western Virginia declared independence from the Mother State, but before West Virginia was admitted into the Union, it shows Virginia with its full pre-Civil War boundaries. It is also noteworthy that Virginia was included at all in a map of the "northeastern United States" issued during the Civil War. On the lower map, each existing county is separately coloured, so that the line of the western frontier at the time of publication is easily traceable.

The larger general map gives an excellent portrait of the American West during the Civil War. It shows the new state of Oregon (1859) and the new territories of Colorado and Nebraska (1861). Arizona is still shown below New Mexico, and Idaho Territory (est. 1863) is still a part of Washington. The Pony Express and Overland Express Routes are laid down, as are several transcontinental railroad proposals. The entire map is bordered in a grapevine motif with engravings of the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, Willammette Falls, Oregon, and the Connecticut River Valley in the corners, and four obelisk-shaped monuments in the vertical borders. It also includes a table of distances within the United States and internationally, as well as tables of "Square Miles and Population of the United States."

Not in Phillips, America; Wheat, Transmississippi West. Rumsey 718.

#5395$3,500.00
 
 
COLTON, George W. (1827-1901)

New Guide Map of the United States & Canada. With Railroads, Counties Etc.

New York: Colton, & Chicago: Rufus Blanchard, 1861. Period color, 30¼ x 34¾ inches, folding into gilt-stamped dark brown cloth covers. Fine condition.

Not in Rumsey

#3120$1,500.00
 
 
COLTON, J.H.

Colton's Map of the United States the Canadas &C. Showing the Rail Roads, Canals & Stage Roads with Distances from Place to Place

New York: Colton, 1855. Period outline color, 26¼ x 29 inches, folding into gilt-stamped brown cloth covers. Near fine condition.

The primary map extends as far west as central Texas. Texas' first railroad is shown (from Galveston to Houston). There is an inset "Map of New England and Eastern New York." Not in Rumsey.

#3121$1,500.00
 
 
COLTON, J.H. (1800-1893)

Colton's Map of the United States the Canadas &c. Showing the Rail Roads, Canals & Stage Roads with Distances from Place to Place

New York: Colton, 1853. Folding pocket map, period hand-colouring in outline. Insets of New England, the continental U.S. and the Isthmus of Panama. Folds into publisher's blindstamped cloth covers, title stamped in gilt on the upper cover. Sheet size: 27 x 31 1/2 inches.

Scarce pocket map of the U.S. with beautiful period colouring.

This scarce Colton map shows the U.S. as far west as the Great Plains, including much of eastern Texas. Published in 1853, neither Kansas nor Nebraska are named, though the east halves of those territories are shown. The map is quite detailed with many cities and towns identified and numerous railroads crossing the country, extending as far west as Missouri. The Santa Fe trail is shown, as are the locations of many Indian tribes. First published in 1850, this 1853 issue shows significant additions, particularly as relates to the railroads.

Rumsey 0172 (1852 issue)

#25821$1,500.00
 
 
D'ANVILLE, Jean Baptiste Bourguignon (1697-1782)

North America from the French of Mr. d'Anville improved with the British Surveys made Since the Peace

London: Sayer & Bennett, June 1775. Copper engraved map with original outline colour. Repaired tears and creases in the upper margin, otherwise excellent. Sheet size: 21 x 28 1/2 inches.

A fine of copy this attractive map of North America

Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville was the successor to Guillaume De l'Isle in the sense that he maintained the rigorous standard for accuracy that De l'Isle had established. D'Anville was the last French mapmaker to establish an international reputation which was superior to all his contemporaries, as witnessed by the respect shown by English cartographers and publishers during an era when the two countries were often at war and always hostile to one another.

This D'Anville map was first appropriated by Thomas Jefferys in 1755, who used it to demonstrate French provocations that would lead imminently to war. In 1775, Sayer & Bennett revised Jefferys' map to show British colonial America as understood when the Revolution broke out.. The Peace referred to in the title refers to the 1763 peace accord with France.

The map is wonderfully detailed and informative giving accurately the locales of Indian tribes just west of the white colonies, particularly in the southeast.

Stevens & Tree 51 (c); McCorkle 775.2

#19739$1,750.00
 
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