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Thomas Jekyll after W.H. Emory. "Map of the United States and their territories between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean and part of Mexico compiled from surveys made under the order of W.H. Emory,..." From Report of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. Washington: GPO, 1857. 22 7/8 x 20 1/4. Engraving by Selmar Siebert. Full margins. Very good condition. Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West, 822. Denver.
The general map from the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission report. Based on the astronomical observations of Lt. W. H. Emory, it is an important map for the American southwest and especially for the U.S. and Mexican border. This border was first established at the end of the Mexican-American War ran along the Gila River and unfortunately the only feasible southern route for a railroad ran through Mexico. This prompted renewed negotiations, resulting in the Gadsden Purchase, acquiring for the United States enough land to run the railroad line. William H. Emory, a topographical engineer, who had previously done surveying in the southwest with Kearny in 1846-47, was appointed by President Polk to the Boundary Commission in 1848; Emory was to prove the heart of this commission throughout its life, acting variously as Commissioner, Surveyor and Chief Astronomer.
Though not called for by his commission, Emory prepared this general map on a large scale to go along with his report. It showed the information of his survey of the border as well as information to the north based on the information from the Pacific Railroad Surveys. It is, in effect, the summary map showing the Federal government's knowledge of the lands west of the Mississippi just before the Civil War. Of particular interest concerning the Boundary Commission is the fact that in response to the destruction of Emory's markers along the border, it was agreed that the maps produced by the Boundary Commission would constitute the final determinate of the Mexican-American border. This "agreement by the two commissioners gives to the final maps of the Boundary Survey an all but unique significance. In effect the maps were the boundary, and so remained for another generation." (Wheat, III, p. 241.) This map combines the best topographical information of the American west with an historic importance in the history of the country. $525
James Hall and J.P. Lesley. "Map illustrating the general Geological features of the country West of the Mississippi River." New York: GPO, 1857. After survey by W.H. Emory. Drawn by Thomas Jeckyll. 20 x 23. Lithograph by Sarony, Major & Knapp. Original hand color. Very good condition. Wheat: Mapping the Transmississippi West: 922. Denver.
A beautiful and unusual transmississippi-west map, showing the geological features of the region, each indicated with a different bright color. The map was compiled by noted geological cartographer James Hall, assisted by J.P. Lesley, and was based on the information from W.H. Emory's important survey of the Mexican-American border, as well as other government surveys. Emory's report included a section on the geology of the American west, which "was the first attempt by reputable scientists to construct an all-over version of the trans-Mississippi geography.... In addition to this the three geologists--Parry, Schott and Hall--attempted to derive causal principles from the mass of observed data and thus to reconstruct the geological history of the region." (William H. Goetzmann, Army Explorations of the American West, p. 201). This map was issued when the region was just beginning to come into focus. The focus on geology was certainly appropriate, for within a year of its issue the first (Pike's Peak Gold Rush) of many mineral rushes would help further exploration, settlement and development of the American West. $525
"Map of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado Showing also The Southern portion of Dacotah." Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., 1862. 11 1/2 x 14. Lithograph. Full original color. Very good condition. Denver.
This fine of the Plains states if from the 1862 issue of S. Augustus Mitchell Jr.'s important atlas. The map shows the territories of Kansas and Nebraska just after they were reorganized into their present borders (though they were still territories for a number of years yet. Also shown are the territory of Colorado and the southern part of "Dacotah." After the Civil War, this region was flooded with settlers, miners and others seeking new opportunities in the burgeoning American west. This map shows this area when it was the classic "Wild West" of popular lore. The eastern-most parts of Kansas and Nebraska are shown fairly well settled, and in the west are shown a few new settlements, the newly laid railroads, forts, and Indian tribes. The southern part of the "Dacotah" territory is shown and present-day Wyoming (which the year after this map was issued became part of the Idaho Territory) is noted as "Attached to Dacotah." With updated maps in most atlases, Mitchell pictured this fascinating part of American history and this is one of the more interesting snapshots. $225
A sequence of maps of the American west
A series of maps of the southern part of the American west, from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, issued by some of the major American publishers out of New York. The sequence began with Johnson & Browning's 1860 "Johnson's California Territories of New Mexico and Utah," and continued into the 1880s. In 1860, the region was just opening up (partly as a result of the two great gold rushes of California (1849) and Colorado (1859), but also the building of the trans-continental railroad, linking the two coasts of the country. This series of maps graphically shows this development, from a sparsely developed country crossed by pony express, explorer and emigrant trail to a rapidly filled in land of mining towns, criss-crossed by railroads. Each new edition shows changes in borders, counties, towns, roads, railroads, Indian tribe locations, and much else.
A nice example of the second edition of Johnson's important map showing the territories of Nevada and Colorado the year they were created. These two territories were carved mostly from Utah, which was shrunk considerably, though in the next few years it would shrink even further as Nevada was expanded to the east. Also of importance in this edition is the appearance of an Arizona Territory along the southern edge of New Mexico Territory. After the Gadsden Purchase, in the late 1850s, there was demand for the breaking off an Arizona territory from New Mexico. This culminated in a provisional constitution by the unofficial 1860 Constitutional Convention held in Tucson in 1860 that the southern part of the New Mexico Territory be made into Arizona Territory. In 1861 this self-proclaimed territory ceded from the Union, though in June the following year Union forces took back the territory from the Confederates. The Johnson firm shows Arizona as a separate entity, though it was not officially a U.S. territory until 1863, when it was created with a north-south border instead of the east-west border shown here. $550
This map shows the relatively new territories of Nevada (1861), Colorado (1861) and Arizona (1863). Of note are is that Nevada's eastern border extends only to the 115th meridian (it would be moved to the 114th the next year) and the southern "tip" of Nevada is still part of Arizona. Also of interest is the indication of both Denver City and Auraria, three years after they had merged into one city. The map contains interesting information on various trails, explorer and postal routes, as well as U.S. forts. Also indicated are the proposed railroad routes. $325
Johnson's map issued a year later than that above. Though the eastern border of Nevada was changed to the 114th meridian the year this map was issued, the old border is shown here. The many trails that were beginning to be used in the west, such as the Cimarron, Santa Fe, and Oregon trails, are indicated, as are the different routes leading to the "Pike's Peak" gold mining regions around Denver. This map was issued in the early days of the building of the trans-continental railway and the proposed routes for the southern Pacific R.R. and both the Central Pacific R.R. and the Union Pacific R.R., which are shown on this map passing each other by, rather than meeting in Utah as they eventually did. $325
This is Colton's version of this western map. It is interesting to compare it with Johnson's map of two years before. Some things are not as up-to-date (for instance, Auraria is still shown separate from Denver City), but other information is more current. In the vast middle parts of this map, the mountains are not fully filled in, but good indications are given of the locations of Indian tribes and mines. California, in contrast to the territories, is shown extensively developed, with many counties, towns, and a network of roads and rail lines. $325
Another in Johnson's series of maps, this one the first to show Nevada with its current border. Nevada had become a state in 1864, but did not gain its southern tip, below the 37th parallel, until the year this map was issued. Also this map was issued just as the trans-Continental railroad was nearly completion, and the paths of the Union Pacific R.R. and the Central Pacific R.R. are shown reaching towards each other, paralleled along part by the route by the Pony Express. $275
An updated map from the 1867 version, with a new border and the addition of a few new counties in California. $275
One of the last maps in the sequence, issued about two decades after the first. By the time this map was issued, the states and territories shown all had the borders they do today. This was still a relatively sparsely settled and developed area, so many Indian tribes are shown and a number of blank or poorly delineated areas are included. However, the pony express, explorer and immigrant trails are no longer shown, though there are myriad more established roads/trails indicated. And where the earlier maps show the "proposed routes" for the railroads, this map is filled with depictions of the many railroads that criss-cross the region. A wonderful snap-shot of the American west that was no longer totally "wild," but was also still very much a frontier. $250
Johnson's map of the configuration modified from the situation shown in the map above, depicting the area about 1864. By 1861 Kansas and Nebraska had been reorganized into their present configurations, the Dakota Territory, to the north, had the Idaho Territory broken off in 1863, comprising present-day Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. In 1864, the Montana Territory was broken off, and this map is the first version of the Johnson map to show it thusly. The detail in this map is most impressive, showing rivers, towns, forts, Indian tribes, and the early trails which criss-crossed this region. This map, issued the end of the Civil War, shows these territories just before they were filled with new settlers, miners and other speculators. $175
More maps of the Trans-Mississippi West by A.J. Johnson. New York: Johnson & Ward, 1864. Lithographs. Original hand coloring. Somewhat brittle. Very good condition.
For most of the middle part of the nineteenth century, the firm founded by S. Augustus Mitchell dominated American cartography in output and influence. This fine map is from one of his son's atlases issued second half of the century. This map shows the territories of Kansas and Nebraska just a year before their statehood, along with the territories of Wyoming and Colorado. After the Civil War, this region was flooded with settlers, miners and others seeking new opportunities in the burgeoning American west. This map shows this area when it was the classic "Wild West" of popular lore. The eastern parts of Kansas and Nebraska are shown well settled, and in the west are shown new settlements, the newly laid railroads, forts, and Indian tribes. The southern part of the "Dacotah" territory is shown and present-day Wyoming is noted as "Attached to Dacotah." With updated maps in most atlases, Mitchell pictured this fascinating part of American history and this is one of the more interesting snapshots. $195
Oliver J. Stuart. "Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona." From McNally's System of Geography. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1874. 10 3/4 x 8 3/8. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition. Denver.
A map of the western states and territories; only Nevada and Oregon were states, the rest still being territories. This was just after the transcontinental railroad had been built, and that is shown running through the middle of the area shown, with spurs heading north and south from Sacramento. Topography is well delineated, and towns are indicated throughout. A nice image of the American West just before the Centennial. $60
Charles Becker. "Custer's Battle-Field (June 25th 1876) Surveyed and drawn under the personal supervision of Lieut. Edward Maguire Corps of Engineers U.S.A. by Sergeant Charles Becker. Co 'D' Battalion of Engineers." Washington, 1877. Lithograph. 15 x 17 1/2. Excellent condition. Wheat: 1266. Denver.
The U.S. Army's Montana Column arrived at the scene of the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 27th, just two days after 'Custer's Last Stand.' They not only relieved the survivors from Custer's command, who had been under siege since the battle, but they had the unpleasant task of burying the hundreds of dead they found on the battlefield. Besides this, Lieut. Edward Maguire, from the Corp of Engineers, was tasked with compiling a report, to include a map, of the battle. The map was entrusted to another engineer, Sergeant Charles Becker, who had been making maps for the troops all along. Becker carefully surveyed the field, including the grave locations for many of the fallen, including Custer, and produced this excellent topographical drawing. The Little Bighorn River, the surrounding hills and ravines, and woods are all depicted clearly, with the movement of Custer's troops indicated. The location of the Indian encampment in the valley is shown, and a numbered key indicates a dozen grave sites. This map was issued along with Maguire's report the following year and it is the primary contemporary map of this famous battle. $650
"The Pacific States and Territories." 1877. 10 7/8 x 8 3/4. Lithograph. Original color. Very good condition. Denver.
Illustrates Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California. $45
Frank A. Gray. "Gray's Idaho, Montana and Wyoming." Philadelphia: O.W. Gray & Son, 1881. 12 x 14 3/4. Lithograph. Original color. Very good condition. Denver.
A nicely detailed and very early map of the northwestern part of the United States by the Philadelphia firm of O.W. Gray. The firm began its publishing around mid-century and published regional and U.S. atlases up to the 1880s, first as O.W. Gray and then O.W. Gray & Son. This map is typical of their work, presenting the latest information available with clear and precise detail. The area shown here had been broken up into the three territories in 1868 and it wasn't until about a decade after this map that they were finally admitted as states. Detail includes topography, rivers, settlements, Indian tribes and even the early railroads both in Montana and Wyoming. Of note is the depiction of the "National Park" at Yellowstone, which had been established just about a decade earlier The Gray map of Utah appears on the verson of this map. $175
"California and Nevada." Philadelphia: O.W. Gray & Son, 1881. 26 x 15 3/4. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition. Denver.
A large-scale, detailed map of the two states, with impressive information on towns, lakes, rivers, counties, and especially the topography. In 1869, the first continental railroad connected these states with the west, followed in 1883 with Southern Pacific RR. This map shows the region as prospering from the first, but just before the completion of the latter. The rail lines in the states are indicated, including the Central Pacific RR, a railroad running from Los Angeles south to Yuma, and the connection by rail between Sacramento and Los Angeles. Also of interest are the insets of the city of Sacramento, the vicinity of San Francisco, and Yosemite Valley. $175
"New Mexico and Arizona." Philadelphia: O.W. Gray & Son, 1881. 11 1/2 x 14 3/4. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition. Denver.
An interesting map of these two southwestern territories (both admitted as states in 1912). Arizona had been split off from the original, larger New Mexico territory in 1863 and this map shows the region as it was beginning to develop after the Civil War. Towns, counties and forts are shown throughout. Of particular interest is the information on the railroads in the territory, both proposed and existing. The Southern Pacific is depicted as extending past Tucson to just east of Fort Bowie, while another line is shown running south from Trinidad, Colorado, through Albuquerque to Fort McRae. $125
"Tunison's Colorado." Jacksonville, Illinois: H.C. Tunison, 1885. Wax engraving. Original color. 12 1/4 x 9 3/4. Very good condition. Denver.
A handsome map of Colorado from Tunison's Peerless Universal Atlas. With the development of wax engraving (cerography), more maps and atlases were able to be produced in cities beyond the major centers of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. Henry C. Tunison issued a series of fine atlases beginning in 1885 and lasting into the beginning of the twentieth century. This is a nice example of his output, showing Colorado within a decade of statehood, shortly after the great silver strikes at Leadville and a period when mining was booming. $125
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