Catalog Archive
Auction 116, Lot 144

"Colton's Map of the United States, the Canadas &c. Showing the Rail Roads, Canals & Stage Roads: With Distances from Place to Place", Colton, Joseph Hutchins

Subject: Eastern United States

Period: 1851 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
30 x 25 inches
76.2 x 63.5 cm
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This very large, folding map offers an exceedingly detailed view of the eastern United States up to the Great Plains. Printed on fine bank note paper, the map extends to show part of Texas, Indian Territory, and a large Minnesota. An unnamed region is between Indian Territory and Minnesota and is filled with Indian place names. In the south it extends in Florida to only about half of Lake Okeechobee, or about 60 miles south of Tampa. The map is filled with place names, roads, rail roads, rivers and much more. A large inset (8.5 x 19.5") gives more detail to New England and eastern New York. Another inset shows all of the U.S. in a pre-Gadsden Purchase configuration. A third, smaller inset details the Isthmus of Panama. All surrounded by a decorative border. This is the 2nd edition of this map first printed in 1850.

Terrific and early example of Colton's guidebook that contains the fine, large folding map "Colton's Map of the United States, the Canadas &c. Showing the Rail Roads, Canals & Stage Roads: With Distances from Place to Place." The book (4" x 6.3") is titled, "Colton's Guidebook through the United States of America and the Canadas". It is hardbound in brown cloth with decorative blind-stamped gilt title with fancy images and border that include train and steam ship. The frontispiece is a small, hand colored map titled, "The Rail Road Routes between New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington". Title page, route index, text describing each state and territory, routes by state, 250pp, plus at the back 16pp "Catalogue of Maps, Charts, Books, etc., published by J.H. Colton," which is a remarkable listing of early Colton work.

References:

Condition: A

The map has very fine and bright color with a dark impression. A couple of light spots and one short fold split where pasted to back board, else fine. Contents are very good to fine, covers are rubbed and a bit faded.

Estimate: $500 - $600

Sold for: $475

Closed on 9/20/2006

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