Antique Maps of the United States
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J.H. Young. "A New Map Of The United States of America." Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait, & Co, 1850. 16 x 26 3/8. Lithographic transfer from engraved plate. Full original color. Some chipping at margins and wear along centerfold; light stains at right. Otherwise, very good condition.

A strong and detailed map of the entire United States from the mid-nineteenth century, published by one of the Cowperthwait firms of Philadelphia. Towns, rivers, orography and other surprising details are shown throughout. The Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. maps are especially known for their depiction of the transportation routes, and this map is no exception. Roads, and railroads are shown in the eastern part of the country, while west of the Mississippi are drawn the major trails such as those going to Oregon and Santa Fe. States and territories are named and highlighted in contrasting pastel shades, with this information being of particular interest in the trans-Mississippi region, which is shown in the configuration as determined by the Compromise of 1850. California as depicted as a state and large Utah and New Mexico territories are shown below the equally large Oregon Territory. The lands north of Texas are depicted as comprised of two large territories, Indian and "Missouri or North West Territory." To the east of the latter is the Minnesota Territory comprised of today's Minnesota and the Dakotas. Also of considerable interest is the large inset in the lower left corner of the "Gold Region of California," giving even more detail of the region involved in the great gold rush of 1849. Overall this is a fascinating map from an important time in the western development of the United States. $425

"Verein-Staaten von Nord-America." Hildburghausen, Germany: Bibliograph Institus in Hildburghausen, ca. 1850. 3 1/2 x 5 5/8. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition.

A detailed small engraving showing the United States about 1850, issued by the 'Bibliographic Institution of Hildburghausen.' This firm issued many steel engraved views of all parts of the world and also, around the middle of the nineteenth century, an atlas with detailed and up-to-date maps. Each state and territory is indicated, with a very interesting depiction for the trans-Mississippi region. The states, 33 of them, are listed at right. $125

Carl Flemming. "Vereinigte Staaten von Nordamerika." Germany: C. Flemming, 1853. Folding map, dissected into 24 sections, mounted on linen, and housed in clamshell box. 20 5/8 x 28. Lithography by Handtke. Original outline color. A very little light spotting in lower left margin. Otherwise excellent condition.

Carl Flemming ran an important German publishing house in Glogau and Berlin in the middle of the nineteenth century, issuing atlases and separately issued maps like this one. The Germans were very interested in American at this period, with large numbers having emigrated to Texas in the 1840s, and more taking advantage of the opportunities of land and employment by coming to the mid-west and into the west. This map includes great detail of rivers, towns, railroads and canals, all engraved with typical German precision and clarity. The map is particularly interesting for its depiction of the trans-Mississippi region. Shown are large territories for Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, Missouri, "Minisotah," and a large Indian Territory. A fine European map of the U.S. at mid-century. $950

"The United States of America." New York: J.H. Colton, 1855. 15 1/2 x 26. Lithograph. Original hand color. Full margins. Some minor blemishes in margins and separation at bottom centerfold. Overall, very good condition.

An excellent, detailed map of the United States showing the nation's political configuration just after the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854. The former act established California as a state and set up the Utah and New Mexico territories between the new state and the Rocky mountains. The latter act broke up the old Missouri Territory and Indian Territories to create the Kansas Territory, running from Missouri to the Utah Territory, and the Nebraska Territory from Kansas to the Canadian border. The Colton firm kept their maps very up-to-date, so this map shows this situation clearly and with good detail. Besides the usual rivers, settlements, forts and such, this map also shows both the "Oregon Route" and the "Santa Fe Route," as well as the proposed routes for the planned trans-continental railroad. A fine map from one of the top American map publishing firms of the mid-nineteenth century. $350

Theodor Ettling. "United States of North America (Eastern & Central)." London: Weekly Dispatch, ca. 1860. 38 x 35 1/2. Lithograph transfer from engraving by T. Ettling. Printed by Day & Son. Original outline color. Dissected into 24 sections and mounted on linen. Very good condition.

A British separately issued map of the United States up to the Rockies by Theodor Ettling. Ettling was a Dutch draughtsman, engraver and lithographer who worked first in Amsterdam, later moving to London where he produced maps for some of the British papers of the mid-nineteenth century. This map was published by the Weekly Dispatch, which issued an atlas in 1858 with maps by Ettling. Ettling seems to have made quite a study of North America, issuing a number of fine examples such as this large folding map. Detail is copious and precisely delineated in a typically neat British style. Roads, towns, rivers, lakes, and topographically are all accurately and clearly rendered. The map shows the United States as it was situated at the beginning of the Civil War, and its depiction of the trans-Mississippi region is particularly interesting. A large Kansas Territory and very large Nebraska Territory run up to the Rocky Mountains, with New Mexico, a tiny bit of Arizona, Utah, and Idaho shown at the western edge of the map. The detail in this region is also of considerable interest, with proposed railroad routes and Indian tribes indicated throughout. Besides its historic interest, this rare map is also decoratively very attractive, with the soft pastel outline color and hatchured topography lending it a nice visual appeal. $950

"Johnson's New Military Map of the United States showing the Forts, Military Posts &c. Enlarged Plans of Southern Harbors From Authentic Data Obtained at the War Department Washington." New York: Johnson & Ward, 1861. 17 1/2 x 23 3/4. Lithograph. Full original hand-color. A few marginal blemishes. Very good condition.

A fascinating map of the United States during the Civil War. The map was issued by Johnson & Ward, publishing out of New York City, who were one of the leading cartographic publishers in the latter half of the century, producing popular maps, atlases, and geographies. This map shows the United States at the beginning of the war, with emphasis on the forts and military posts across the country, each of which is clearly marked and named. The states and territories are indicated with contrasting pastel shades, showing the political situation at the beginning of the Civil War. Along the bottom and right side of the map are insets of southern harbors, a crucial bit of information related to the war. This is a terrific image of the U.S. at the beginning of the terrible conflict which, in the end, did not render it asunder. $275

"The United States of America." New York: J.H. Colton, [1856]-1866. 15 1/2 x 26. Lithograph. Original hand color. Crease next to centerfold and some light spotting. Overall, very good condition.

Another Colton map, this of the United States in 1866. Just two years before this map was issued, Montana Territory was created out of Idaho Territory, and that is the configuration shown here, with just to the south the territory that would later become Wyoming shown as part of the Dakota Territory. This map was issued just at the beginning of the dramatic post-Civil War development of the American west and it presents detail of this region that is fascinating. Rivers and lakes and some topography are shown, but it is the forts, mines, and towns which are of particular interest. Also shown are the roads and trails that had been and continued to be traveled by those settling or crossing the American west. For instance, the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the Pony Express routes are all clearly documented, as are some of the early explorer's routes. A fine snap shot image of the United States just after the Civil War from one of the top American map publishing firms of the mid-nineteenth century. $375

"Map Of The United States, and Territories. Together With Canada &c." Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, Jr., 1867. Lithograph. Original hand color. 13 1/4 x 21 1/4. Very good condition.

This is a classic example of a map from one of the S.Augustus Mitchell atlases. It depicts the political divisions of the country just about the time that the Wyoming Territory was created (1869). This territory was created out of the southwestern part of the Dakota Territory and this map names it and roughly indicates its proposed borders with a dotted line. Detail in the map is accurate, clear and copious. The eastern part of the country is filled with railroads, roads, towns, and so forth, and the trans-Mississippi west also contains an impressive amount of information on forts, settlements, rivers, some mountains, and Indian territories. Of particular note are the depictions of the "Overland Mail Route" and the proposed railroad routes. $275

U.S. General Land Office. "Map of the United States and Territories Showing the extent of the Public Surveys…General Land Office…direction of Jos[eph] S. Wilson, Commissioner, by Joseph Gorlinski, Draughtman, 1867." In Bericht des Commissionär des General=Land=Amtes, der Vereinigten Staaten von America, für das Jahr 1867. Washington: Drud der Regierunge= Buchdruderei, 1868. Octavo. Folding map, 28 x 55. Lithographed by Julius Bien. The map has old tape at junctions of most folds and a few spots. Binding is original pebble grain covers; bumped corners and chipped a top of spine; else fine. Ref.: similar to Phillips, Maps, p. 917.

A large and impressive map of the United States based on the mapping of the General Land Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Besides showing the extent of the surveys, topography, and major cities and forts, symbols show land offices, proposed and actual railroads, mineral deposits, and light houses. There is no Wyoming, Dakota is one territory, and the future Oklahoma is designated Indian Territory split among six tribal units. The map was issued in a German edition of the report of the GLO (the map is in English). The text emphasizes mineral resources with information on tonnage and values realized in recent history. $675

"Map of the United States." From H.H.Lloyd & Co.'s Atlas of United States. Philadelphia: Warner & Higgins, 1870. Lithograph by E. Bourquin. 16 1/4 x 28 1/4. Original hand color. Very good condition.

A map of the United States from a uncommon atlas. Issued in 1870, just a year after Wyoming Territory was created, the map shows an up-to-date depiction of the political situation in the country. The eastern part of the country is filled with road and railroads, but it is in the west that most of the interest lies. The river systems in the west were becoming clearer at this time and this map presents those clearly. Also shown are forts, settlements, passes, and of special note that trans-Mississippi rail systems being built at this time. It was only the year before, in 1869, that the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah joining the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. That first transcontinental line is nicely depicted on this map, making it a wonderful snap shot of this seminal time in American history. $285

"Gray's Atlas Map of the United States of America. 1873." Philadelphia: O.W. Gray, 1873. 16 3/4 x 27 1/2. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition.

A map of the United States issued in 1873 at a period when the completion of the transcontinental railroad and gold rushes in California and Colorado led to an upswing in the speed of development of the trans-Mississippi west. While the railroads in the west cannot compare to the web of rail lines in the east, the growth shown on this map, compared to earlier depictions of the United States, is graphic evidence of the western boom. The political formation in the west remained static after the addition of the Wyoming Territory in 1869, but each year was welcomed with many new miles of rail line, new settlements, and a better understanding of the topography of the region. $225

Rufus Blanchard. "Historical Map of the United States Showing Early Spanish, French & English Discoveries and Explorations Also Forts, Towns & Battle Fields of Historical Interest." Chicago; R. Blanchard, 1876. 57 1/4 x 54. Lithograph. Original hand color. Mounted onto linen and folded into 10 x 13 1/2 sections. With original leather covers. With separations at folds, but otherwise, very good condition.

A visually striking historical map of the United States issued in 1876 in celebration of the American Centennial. The map, with depicts the U.S. from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, illustrates the spheres of colonial power, with notes on the earliest discoveries, settlements, forts, battles and so forth. Also included are several inset maps, some copies of original antique maps, and one showing the United States at the beginning, after the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and one showing the United States in 1826, after a half century of growth. Historical text appears on the front of the map, and a series of panels, giving a chronological account of the history of the U.S., are mounted on the bottom verso. The map was designed to fold into covers and these panels can be read when it is first opened. The map also has two ribbons in the top corners, intended to be used to hang the map for presentation, presumably in a school room. This is a most interesting and quite handsome map from the end of our nation's first century. $750

"Map Of The United States, and Territories. Together With Canada &c." Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, Jr., 1876. Lithograph. Original hand color. 13 1/4 x 21 1/4. Very good condition.

A later edition of the S.A. Mitchell map of the United States, issued during the country's Centennial year. Quite changed from the map of the previous decade (above) and with more topographical features than the Gray map of three years before. $225

"Map of the United States." Buffalo: Matthews Northrup Co., ca. 1890. 12 x 19 3/4. Cereograph. Full color. Pocket folding map with original, printed cover. Some wear to corner of cover, but overall fine condition.

A nice, unusual example of a "vest-pocket" folding map from around 1890. Issued in Buffalo New York by the Matthews Northrup Co. On the back of the cover they advertise their "Vest-Pocket Maps" which are "Handsomer - handier - BETTER than any 50-cent maps published. The back of the map includes a description of the history and politics of the U.S., along with a table of population. The map itself has considerable detail, including railroads, towns, and much else. $95

"Map Showing Indian Reservations within the Limits of the United States Compiled under the Direction of the Hon. T.J. Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs." From the Eleventh Census of the United States, Robert Porter, Superintendent. New York: Sackett & Wilhelms Litho Co., 1892. 21 x 33 1/4. Chromolithograph. With folds as issued. Very good condition.

A fascinating map from the 25 volume report on the Eleventh Decennial Census in the United States. The map shows Indian Reservations throughout the U.S. and its territories at the time of the 1890 census. Reservations are clearly marked and identified with the related tribe names. Also interesting is the fact that while this report took less than two years to be produced, the Tenth Census report took eight years. This amazing reduction in the time needed for tabulating and interpretation was due to the innovations of Herman Hollerith, who developed an integrated system for collecting census information and tabulating its results. He developed a punch card, the same size and shape as the computer punch cards still in use for data processing through the 1970s, as well as a machine for reading it. Hollerith's system allowed a rough count of over 62 million individuals in the U.S. at the time of the 1890 census, within six weeks, all while saving U.S. taxpayers about $5 million compared to the cost of the previous census! The business Hollerith founded with this invention became International Business Machines. $175