Lithograph with fine bright original hand color on two joined sheets. With case. Decorative patriotic cartouche featuring the American eagle and the myriad fruits of the land above title. Elaborate decorative grape vine and vignette border displays the scenic and cultural highlights of the antebellum United States: Saratoga Lake, New York, Valley of the Connecticut from Mt. Holyoke, Bunker Hill Monument, Boston, Mass., Washington Monument, New York, Capitol, Washington City, Entrance to a Port [Naval Scene], Mexicans Catching Wild Cattle, Cathedral City of Mexico, Pulaski Monument, Savannah, Ga., Battle Monument, Baltimore, Md., Willamette Falls, Oregon, and Astoria, Oregon. Two inset plans at lower portion: A Map of the Atlantic Ocean Showing the American and European Ports and Routes of Ocean Steamers, and The Isthmus of Panama Showing the Routes of Travel Between Chagres and Panama. Overall, a very large, bold and attractive map of the United States from the important expansionist decade of the 1850s. Slight toning along fold lines and some minor separation at one fold intersection. Slight toning where the booklet was attached.
$8,500.00
Colton’s magnificent wall map of the United States is bordered with a decorative floral design and inset with finely drawn views of important architectural accomplishments and the American landscape. The map illustrates the States and Territories in full color, and is of particular interest for the detailed depiction of the American West. Of note are the routes of John Charles Fremont through Oregon and California, of Captain Marcy in Texas, and of General Kearney along the Arkansas River. Both the Oregon Trail and the Spanish Trail (Camino Real) are shown and there are numerous legends on the map providing historical and political detail. The massive tracts of land that were being organized in 1850 by the many settlers pouring west are shown with their full territorial boundaries. Of interest is all of the territory west of Missouri. One of the most noteworthy details of this map is the appearance of Texas in its near full Republic configuration just before the Compromise of 1850. This is one of the most iconic representations of Texas on a wall map. Minnesota Territory, Indian Territory and Nebraska Territory comprise nearly the entire Midwest, showing the numerous Native American Tribes relocated there during the 1850s. The majority of the West is made up of the large geographical configurations of Oregon and California. California’s “Gold Region” is mentioned twice in text on the map along with the resource rich area being highlighted in yellow. Another important notation located in present day Arizona states, “supposed residence of the Aztecs in the 12th century”. This important view of the United States in 1850 delineates Texas at its fullest expanse just before the Compromise of 1850 and would make an impressive addition to any collection centered around Texas.
Ref.: Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers, 318; Phillips, Maps, p. 900 (1849 ed); Wheat, Mapping of the Trans-Mississippi West , 666 (1850).
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