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S. Augustus Mitchell. "A New Map of Texas, Oregon and California with the Regions adjoining Compiled from the most recent authorities." Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, 1846. Separately issued, folding map on bank note paper. 20 x 19. Lithograph. Original hand color. With a few tiny holes at folds; lined on rice paper for stability. Else, very good condition. Martin: 36; Wheat: 520.
A nice example of what is probably S. Augustus Mitchell's most famous folding map. The region shown extends from the Mississippi to the Pacific coastline, and from the Rio Grande to southern Canada. This region was of particular interest in 1846 because of two recent, related events. In 1845, Texas had been admitted to the Union as a new state, which prompted Mexico, in 1846, to invade Texas, thus precipitating the U.S.-Mexican war. General curiosity about the new state and understandable interest in the war led to Mitchell's timely map becoming a very popular item all across the United States. As stated in the "Accompaniment to Mitchell's new map of Texas, Oregon and California...," in which the map was issued, Mitchell used the latest information on the American west which was available at the time. Among his sources were Arrowsmith's 1841 map of Texas, Fremont's and Emory's maps of their explorations in the region, data from the Lewis & Clark expedition, Nicollet's map of the region between the Mississippi and the Missouri, Wilkes' map of Oregon. The map shows Texas claims to the upper Rio Grande, in present-day New Mexico. These claims were eventually given up as part of the Great Compromise of 1850 in return for federal assumption of Texas' public debt. Besides its cartographic interest, the accompanying booklet contains the most comprehensive description of the territories bordering the Pacific Ocean, a region soon to be incorporated into the United States. This is a striking map of seminal significance to the history of the United States and its mapping. $10,500
S. Augustus Mitchell. "Map of Mexico Including Yucatan & Upper California, exhibiting The Chief Cities And Towns, The Principal Travelling Routes &c." Second state, with copyright of 1846. Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, 1847. Folding map on thin bank note paper (missing covers). 17 1/4 x 25 1/8. Lithograph. Original hand color. With some separations and small holes at folds; all expertly repaired and filled. Overall, very good condition. With inset of "The Late Battlefield." Wheat: 548.
With the annexation of Texas into the United States, war soon erupted between the U.S. and Mexico. As soon as the conflict was under way, Philadelphia map publisher, S. Augustus Mitchell, saw that there would be a demand for maps detailing the events in this far-off corner of the continent, so he quickly came out with a folding map of Mexico, with Texas shown with a red outline in its relative position, its panhandle extending to the 42nd parallel. The map was very much a war map, with topographical information kept to a minimum, but roads, towns, political divisions and rivers are clearly shown. Mitchell updated this map as news arrived of events, adding little flags to indicate the site of battles. This map shows the battles of the Alamo, San Jacinto, Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Monterey. In the upper right Mitchell included a detailed inset map of "The Late Battlefield" at Monterey. Another feature of interest is the depiction of the "Great Spanish Trail to Santa Fe" (from San Francisco) and the "Trander's Route to Independence, Mo." from Santa Fe to the east. A fine example of this important war map. $8,500
After H.S. Tanner. "Mexico & Guatemala." From S. Augustus Mitchell's A New Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: H.N. Burroughs, 1847. 11 7/8 x 15. Lithograph transfer from engraved plate. Full original hand color. Some paper toning at edges and a few small stains in margins. Otherwise, very good condition.
In 1846, S. Augustus Mitchell took over publication of H.S. Tanner's Universal Atlas, continuing the run of this important atlas. This is the second state of Mitchell's version of the Tanner map. The year he took over Tanner's atlas (1846), he reissued Tanner's map and then, the same year, issued a version with the copyright date changed to 1846, but all else the same. The next year Mitchell further modified the map by removing Tanner's name and adding some updated information, especially in northern Mexico. The geography of this region is much better depicted, with the mountains surrounding the Great Basin drawn, which had the desired effect of getting rid of the non-existent rivers that had appeared on the earlier edition of this map. Political changes are also shown, for the northern half of the Mexican state of Sonora was detached, becoming part of a large area newly labeled "Upper or New California." This entire region, along with New Mexico, would within a short time of the publication of this map become part of the United States at the settlement of the Mexican-American War. Also to this version Mitchell added a number of roads in the region, including one from Mexico across Texas to Nacogdoches. $475
S. Augustus Mitchell. "Oregon and California. Published by S. Augustus Mitchell . . . 1848." From A New Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, 1848. 17 x 13 3/4. Lithograph transfer from engraved plate. Full original hand color. With manuscript line and text indicating "Humbolt's River." Some light staining; otherwise, very good condition.
A fine pre-Gold Rush map of the westernmost United States in the mid-nineteenth century, showing the region at an interesting period in its history. The map is filled with myriad topographical details, including rivers, towns, and separate coloring for the territories. At the time there were only two territories, Oregon and Upper California, in the region later divided into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. This map is also fascinating in its depiction of the early exploration and development of the region. The "Great Interior Basin," between the Great Salt Lake and the Sierra Nevada Mountains is shown as unexplored, though Fremont's route to its southeast is noted. Early settlements and a coastal road are shown in California , and the old trail between Santa Fe and Los Angeles is also indicated. Of particular note is the prominent depiction of the Oregon Trail, shown snaking from present-day Colorado to the Columbia River. Locations of myriad Indian tribes throughout the region are noted. The map was copyrighted by H.N. Burroughs and published by S. Augustus Mitchell, whose firm dominated American cartography in output and influence for much of the middle part of the nineteenth century. It is obvious from the quality and attractive appearance of this map why Mitchell's firm became so important. This map, one of the best of the region issued in mid-century, went through many different versions from it's first appearance in 1846 until the late 1850s. With the discovery of gold just one year in the future, this map shows the American west on the eve of the huge development to follow. $850
Adrien Hubert Brué, augmented by Charles Picquet. "Nouvelle Carte du Mexique, du Texas et d'une partie des états limitrophes." Paris: C. Picquet, [1845]-ca. 1848. 36 5/8 x 24 5/8. Lithograph. Original outline color. Very good condition. With insets of the environs of Mexico City and Vera Cruz and of the Yucatan. Cf. Wheat: 404.
An updated version of A.H. Brué's important 1834 map of Mexico, a beautifully made and influential document. This map, praised by Carl Wheat, was important especially for including information from explorer Jedediah Smith. As noted on the map, Charles Picquet issued revised and updated versions in 1837, '39, '40, and '45. Though the change of date is not noted, this map clearly was issued about 1848, for both Texas and the old Mexican state of Upper California are shown as part of the United States, a status that came about in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American war. A color coded key at the bottom still lists a color for the "République du Texas," but on the map Texas and Upper California have the color border showing them as part of the U.S. Besides its up-to-date political depiction, the map has considerable information on the topography and settlements in the southwestern part of the United States. A scarce and excellent map. $6,600
Frederick Wislizenus. "Map of a tour from Independence to Santa Fé, Chihuahca, Monterey and Matamoros." From A Memoir of a Tour to Northern Mexico, Connected with Col. Doniphan's Expedition, in 1846 and 1847. Washington, 1848. 19 3/4 x 16. Lithograph by E. Weber & Co. Very good condition. Wheat: 572.
Frederick Wislizenus set off from Independence in 1846 to conduct a private, scientific exploration of the American Southwest, not realizing that war had just been declared between the U.S. and Mexico. He joined the caravan of gun-runner Albert Speyer, but was then imprisoned by the Mexicans. Later, Wislizenus was able to join with Colonel Doniphan's troops and return to the United States. William Goetzmann (Exploration and Empire, pp. 194-96) states that his report "was the most important geographical and economic survey of that almost unknown region then published," and his map, issued with the report, is also one of the best of the region at the time. As Wheat states, the map is "of considerable value,…A number of routes to New Mexico and across Texas are shown, and Doniphan's campaign is carefully followed from Independence, through New and old Mexico to the camp of Jne 2nd, 1847, at Reynosa, at the mouth of the Rio Grande." (III, p.53f.) $750
John Arrowsmith. "Mexico." London: J. Arrowsmith, [1842]-ca. 1848. 18 3/4 x 23 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Minor blemishes in margins. Very good condition.
A finely crafted map of Mexico and the southwestern part of the U.S. by Aaron Arrowsmith's nephew, John. It first appeared in 1834 and was reissued several times, each with updated information. While this map shows a copyright date of 1842, the fact that California and Texas are both shown as part of the United States demonstrates that it was issued after the Mexican-American war ended. Detail is precisely depicted throughout, including many rivers, swamps, lakes, and other such features, along with a profusion of towns and roads. The Mexican states are highlighted with bright contrasting colors. An inset in the lower left shows the "Mexico, Shewing its connection with the Ports of Acapulco, Vera Cruz, & Tampico." $950
Heinrich Kiepert. "Mexico Texas und Californien." Weimar: Geographischen Instituts, 1849. 21 3/8 x 24 1/8. Lithograph. Original color. Mounted on linen. Library stamp. Paper toned and crease in center. Otherwise, very good condition. Cf. Wheat: 723.
The 1849 edition of a rare map of the American southwest, Texas, Mexico and Central America by German cartographer Heinrich Kiepert. Information is very detailed and, according to Wheat, based mostly on Frémont. Kiepert is known for the amount and precision of his detail, and this map is a good example of his output. The clarity is impressive and Kiepert gives credit to the engraver of the topography (C. Jungmann) and of the writing and other information (K. Mädel). The map was issued shortly after the Mexican-American War, so both Texas and Upper California are shown as part of the United States. The borders of Texas are pre-Compromise of 1850, but Kiepert shows in blue both the extended border to the Rio Grande and the more eastern border following the "Rio de Puercos." It is obvious that Texas is the main focus of this map, for it is the only section with full body color. This reflects the fact that between 1844 and 1847 there was a huge influx of German emigrants to the region. The Adelsverein, or German Emigration Company, encouraged this migration to colonies within Texas, where there are many German descendants to this day. In the center of Texas, marked in red, is the "Deutsche Colonie" and a bit further south, marked in green, the "Französ Colonie." The map has three insets: one of Central America, one of the environs of Mexico City, and a profile of the heights across central Mexico. This map would have been issued for the German market, and it would have provided many an immigrant with a first look at his or her new country. $9,500
J.T. Lawson. "Lawson's Map from Actual Survey of the Gold, Silver & Quicksilver Regions of Upper California. Exhibiting the Mines, Diggings, Roads, Paths, Houses, Mill, Stores, Missions &c. &c. by J.T. Lawson, Esq. Cala. Together with a miniature map of the United States, Mexico and South America. Showing the different routs [sic] to California &c. &c." New York: Dewitt & Davenport, 1849. Separately issued map on bank note paper; folded into original booklet with stamped title. 14 1/2 x 20 1/2. Lithograph by G. Snyder; "Engraved in stone by Edw. Herrlein." A few small separations at folds. Some light darkening at a few folds and stain from glue where attached to booklet. Overall, very good condition. Wheat: Maps of the California Gold Region: 108.
An important pocket map of the California gold regions issued to year of the California gold rush. Pocket maps were issued for places people were interested in traveling to, and no place in the United States was of more interest for travelers in 1849 than the California gold regions. This map was intended for those heading to California to participate in the great gold rush. It was only the second map to be issued of just the gold fields. It contains all the information such a '49er' would need, including indications of all the mines, diggings, roads, mills, and other features of note. In the upper corner is a small map showing the various routes to California, and the main map extends from San Francisco, where most would land, north beyond the gold fields. The map is based on an 1848 by Edward Ord, but with some new information added to reflect later events. The map is almost as much a promotional document as a cartographic one, with notes scattered all over such as "Gold found on all these streams," and "Low Clay Hills and Gravel containing Gold." A note at the bottom lists the distances from Sutter's Fort to the lower and upper mines. A map like this, intended for use by travelers and often taken out into the field, would have a very low rate of survival, so it is especially surprising to find a copy in such excellent condition as this. It is a wonderful survivor of that important part of American history. $11,500
Sidney Hall. "Mexico, California & Texas." Edinburgh: A. & C. Black, ca. 1849. 10 1/4 x 14 1/2. Engraving by S. Hall. Original color. Light spot in map. Very good condition. Inset in lower left of "Guatimala."
An interesting map of Mexico and the American southwest issued in Edinburgh about 1849. Details of topography and settlements are shown throughout, and roads and political divisions are also indicated. This map was issued after the Mexican-American war, so Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and California are all shown as part of the United States. In Utah, Salt Lake City is shown on the Great Salt Lake, with the note that it is a "Mormon Set." Throughout the region are indications of Indian tribes. Overall, this is an interesting and up-to-date mapping of this region at an important period in its history. $375
"Map of the State of California, The Territories of Oregon & Utah, and the chief part of New Mexico." From Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., [1850]-1851. Copyright, H.B. Burroughs, 1845. 15 1/2 x 12 7/8. Lithographic transfer from an engraved plate. Original hand color. Full margins. Very good condition.
A mid-century map of the western part of the United States, one of the first maps to show the state of California and the territories of Utah and New Mexico. The map is an updated version of a map that appeared in S. Augustus Mitchell's Universal Atlas of 1849. The southern part of the region shown in that map, "Upper California," had just been won from Mexico in 1848, and Mitchell's map was important for presenting the vast new U.S. territories to the American public. In 1850, the rights to Mitchell's atlas were sold to the firm of Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co., which reissued the atlas with some updating. That year the newly acquired lands were divided by Congress into the state of California and two territories, Utah and New Mexico; Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. revised the Mitchell map accordingly.
Besides the new political information that appeared on this map, what had appeared on the 1849 map as the "Great Interior Basin" is now somewhat filled in based on Fremont's map, renamed "Fremont Basin." Other topographical features included considerable orography, rivers, and lakes. The Great Salt Lake is shown, next to which is "Salt Lake City. Mormon Set.," which had just been settled in 1847. Early settlements and a coastal road are illustrated in California, and the old Spanish trail between Santa Fe and Los Angeles is also indicated. Of further interest is the prominent depiction of the Oregon Trail, shown snaking from present-day Colorado to the Columbia River. The entire region north of Utah and California appears as the Oregon Territory, which it remained until the Washington Territory was created in 1853. Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. continued to revise this map, for in 1851 they came out with a further up-dated map retitled "A New Map of the State of California…" and with more information provided on the counties of the territories and state. This is a fascinating and historical important map, one of the first to show the new political situation in the west after the Compromise of 1850. $875
Carl Flemming. "Mexico, Mittel-America, Texas." From Heinrich Berghaus's Vollständiger Universal-Handatlas. Glogau, Germany: C. Flemming, 1853. 13 x 16 1/2. Lithograph by C. Flemming. Original outline color. Very good condition.
Carl Flemming was the founder of an important German firm located in Berlin and Glogau and this map shows characteristic German detail. The Germans were very interested in America at this period, when many had emigrated to Texas seeking land ownership and employment. This map shows Mexico, Central America, Texas, and the present-day southwest U.S.. The topography of the American Southwest shown here is fairly confused, but the political information is up-to-date, for even though the old Texas border is still shown, the reduced (and present) borders of the state as established by the Compromise of 1850 are clearly indicated. The only other political border prominently depicted in the United States is for California. $475
"North America Sheet XV. Utah, New Mexico, Texas, California, &c. and the Northern States of Mexico." London: Edward Stanford, 1853? 12 1/2 x 15 1/4. Engraving by J. & C. Walker. Full hand color. Very good condition. Phillips Atlases: 811.
An updated SDUK map of the American southwest, and the northern parts of Mexico, showing the region in the form it took following the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The SDUK was very concerned about keeping their maps up-to-date and this map is, if anything, a bit ahead of its time. An earlier version, entitled "Central America, Sheet II," was issued in 1842, but many changes had taken place in the preceding decade. The Mexican American War had added Texas and the American Southwest to the United States, which was broken into California, and the Utah and New Mexico Territories with the Compromise of 1850, with Texas taking its current borders. For the Great Plains, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 established two new territories, with an unorganized "Indian Territory" located just north of Texas. This is the configuration shown here, indicating either that this map was actually issued in 1854, or that the publisher anticipated the passage of the 1854 Act by one year. In any case, this is a very current and graphic image of the American southwest in the years just before the Civil War. $550
Carl Flemming. "Californien, Oregon, Utah und Neu-Mejico." From Heinrich Berghaus's Vollständiger Universal-Handatlas. Glogau, Germany: C. Flemming, 1854. 15 1/2 x 13 5/8. Lithograph by C. Flemming. Original outline color. Very good condition.
Another map by Carl Flemming showing the region to the west of the Rocky Mountains. The topography is graphic, but quite confused. The entire region is shown consisting of only California and the three territories of Oregon-encompassing the entire northwest corner-, Utah and New Mexico. $475
"North America Sheet XV. Utah, New Mexico, Texas, California, &c. and the Northern States of Mexico." London: Edward Stanford, ca. 1854. 12 1/2 x 15 1/4 Engraving by J. & C. Walker. Original outline color. Very good condition.
A slightly later edition of the SDUK map of the southwest (cf. above) It shows the region in the form it took as the result of the Gadsden Purchase, which added lands to the New Mexico Territory in 1854. Of interest is an "Arizona" territory shown running along the southern part of New Mexico. The Arizona Territory was not actually created until 1863, at which time it was to the west, not south of New Mexico. This political entity on the map perhaps reflects the publisher's belief that such a territory would be created, for there was a petition to create it in 1854. This map differs from the earlier map in showing the Gadsden Purchase, naming Arizona, indicating Fillmore City, founded in 1851 as the first capital of the territory, and adding some new lakes and rivers in the far west of the Utah Territory (now Nevada) and eastern California. $550
A.H. Dufour. "États-Unis Région Des Territoires." From Atlas Populaire. Paris, ca. 1854. 12 1/2 x 9 1/2. Lithograph. Full original hand color. Very good condition.
A map of the Trans-Mississippi West by Adolph Hippolyte Dufour. Texas has its post-Compromise of 1850 shape, and New Mexico extends further north than today's borders. North of New Mexico and the "Indien" territories is the Kansas Territory and farther north the "Terr. de Nebraska," extending to the Canadian border. Running from the ridge of the Rockies to the Pacific are shown large Washington and Oregon territories. California has a rather strange shape based mostly on a too-far eastern swing of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Even with this, "Sutters Colonie" is shown incorrectly on the east side of this ridge, and all the territory from the east of the Sierras to as far as the eastern slopes of the Rockies is depicted as a very large "Territoire d'Utah." Throughout are indications of towns, rivers, lakes, forts, Indian tribes, and missions, especially in the northwest. A handsome and unusual map. $350
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