Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 79

"Noord-Amerika", Anon.

Subject: North America

Period: 1830 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
7.4 x 7.5 inches
18.8 x 19.1 cm
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The United States and Great Britain established in 1818 joint claim over the Oregon Territory - the region north of Spanish controlled Upper California up to the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska Territory at North latitude 54°40'. By the late 1830's this arrangement was beginning to fall apart. In the 1840's the expansionist Democrats, including their 1844 presidential candidate, James Polk, claimed the entire region for the United States. Their expansionist desires were expressed by Polk's famous campaign slogan, "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" The slogan also became a rally cry for Americans desiring to settle the territory. Following Polk's election, the dispute was resolved by the 1846 Treaty of Oregon, which struck a compromise that fixed the U.S./Canadian boundary at 49º North.

An uncommon small map depicting the claims of the United States well into British Columbia. The area shown extends from Greenland and the Arctic south to Mexico. The map shows simple topography and the names of major cities.

References:

Condition: B+

A dark impression with some light foxing. The right margin has paper added to facilitate framing.

Estimate: $110 - $140

Sold for: $80

Closed on 5/7/2008

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