"Coltons' Rail-Road and Military Map of the United States, Mexico, the West Indies &c.", Colton, G.W. & C.B.

This scarce Civil War period map shows the entire United States to include the Pacific States. It is the revised edition from the 1862 issue (Rumsey #4857) with Wyoming, Montana and Idaho formed in the west. This edition does not have the slave and free states coloring, suggesting that it was issued after the end of the Civil War. A most decorative map with strapwork borders, tables, nine maps, and four sailing ship vignettes. The insets are of: 1) Washington, Manassas Junction, Harpers Ferry, Baltimore, Annapolis &c. &c.; 2) Map of Charleston, Port Royal & Savannah Vicinities; 3) Norfolk, Fortress Monroe, James River, Richmond, Petersburgh &c. &c.; 4) Beaufort and Vicinity, N. Carolina; 5) Wilmington and Vicinity; 6) Key West and Tortugas Florida Reefs; 7) Mobile Harbor Alabama; 8) New Orleans and Delta of the Mississippi Louisiana; and a very large 9) Map of the Americas, Africa and a Portion of Europe, showing the Atlantic and part of the Pacific Oceans. Originally issued as a folding map, this example is professionally laid on acid free board. A scarce and rarely offered map.

References: Rumsey #4858.

Condition: B

Original color with full margins. The map is toned on some folds, with small loss at a few fold intersections. The consignor reports that the map has been "restored by deacidification and laminated onto acid-free board." This item was professionally restored in the 1970s by the W.J. Barrow Restoration Shop, a leader in conservation methods, including de-acidification and mounting on cellulose acetate film." This mounting technique suggests it's easily reversed, which was recently accomplished on another map so treated.