Catalog Archive
Auction 133, Lot 255

"Carte des Sources du Mississipi tracee d'apres les observations faites en 1832…", Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe

Subject: Minnesota

Period: 1836 (published)

Publication: Bulletin de la Societe de Geographie

Color: Black & White

Size:
7 x 10.5 inches
17.8 x 26.7 cm
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This very scarce map is a French edition by Ambroise Tardieu of Schoolcraft's Sketch of the Sources of the Mississippi River, Drawn from Lieut. Allen's observations in 1832 published in his History of the Indian Tribes. The map was drawn from Lieut. Allen's observations taken during this important expedition that established Lake Itasca as the source of the Mississippi. It shows an interconnecting chain of lakes and waterways ending at Lake Itasca with an adjacent notation stating the lake is "the source of the Mississippi river _ length from the gulf of Mexico 3,160 miles elevation 1500 ft - Reached 13th July 1832." The map locates trading posts just north of Lake Winnipeg and on Leech Lake and an Indian village on Leech Lake, otherwise there are no settlements noted. This French edition map should not be confused with the larger edition published in Schoolcraft's Narrative on an Expedition Through the Upper Mississippi River to Itasca Lake. Schoolcraft joined General Cass' expedition as the official topographer. Cass was charged with exploring the Northwest with the intent of finding the source of the Mississippi river, to "obtain a more correct knowledge of the names, numbers, customs, history, condition, mode of subsistence, and dispositions of the Indian tribes," to survey the topography of the country and investigate the regions mineral wealth and "to purchase from the Indian tribes such tracts as might be necessary to secure the United States the ultimate advantages to be derived from them."

References:

Condition: B+

The map is very good. The binding trim at left has paper laid-in with a little soiling at the join.

Estimate: $150 - $190

Sold for: $190

Closed on 9/1/2010

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