Catalog Archive
Auction 126, Lot 188

"Colton's Map of the Southern States. Including Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texa …", Colton, Joseph Hutchins

Subject: Southern United States

Period: 1861 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
54.5 x 38 inches
138.4 x 96.5 cm
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The title continues "Showing also Part of the Adjoining States & Territories Locating the Forts & Military Stations of the U. States & Showing all the Railroads, R.R. Stations & Other Internal Improvements." This is a large and highly detailed map of the Confederate States in original hand color. It extends from the Atlantic coast to Texas to include Galveston Bay and Island, south into Florida to below Mosquito Bar and Sumter County, and north to above Bloomington, Illinois. It is filled with information locating towns, villages, post offices, railroads, stage roads, canals, trails, watershed and much more. The ocean and gulf is filled with sailing and steam ships which, according to the Library of Congress, depict the Union blockade of southern harbors. The large inset at lower right is the "Southern Part of Florida" which takes off from the main map on a slightly smaller scale. The table of population is based on the 1860 census with the categories Free States and Slave States. The cartography is taken from Government Land Office maps and from the southern part of Calvin Smith’s important large scale map of the U.S. and Canada. This example is the first edition and is dissected into 24 sections and mounted on original linen. The map was issued as a pocket map in two sections and in this more uncommon segmented format. The map was "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1861 by J.H. Colton." Embellished with a broad decorative border and fancy titling. Self-folds with paper label bearing the same title as the map. A scarce map issued at the beginning of the American Civil War.

References: Phillips (M) p.909; Stephenson, (CW) 37.6; LOC #99447109; Rumsey, #4085 (1864 pocket map edition).

Condition: B

The appearance is misleading as the map is 100% complete with no flaws to the paper. The paper label on the outside of the linen has some tears and one small area of loss. A straightforward professional restoration to remove the highly visible mildew and staining and apply new linen should result in a very nice example of this scarce Civil War issue.

Estimate: $800 - $1,000

Sold for: $500

Closed on 12/3/2008

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