Catalog Archive
Auction 136, Lot 357

Early manuscript maps from Olympia Washington

"[Lot of 2 - Olympia Washington hand drawn property maps]",

Subject: Olympia, Washington

Period: 1892-1919 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
17 x 16.5 inches
43.2 x 41.9 cm
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This appears to be an official plat map book that contains 30 tipped-in manuscript maps (12" x 12") from Olympia or Thurston County. Each is drawn on waxed cloth sheet (16.5" x 16") in pen and ink with some plots in color. Each map is identified by Township and range, with many owners named, but none are dated. The maps cover Township 15 Range 1-4 East and West to Township 19 to show Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Northwest Olympia. The 12 acres donated to the state in 1853 by Edmund Sylvester for the Capitol are left blank. Capital Lake does not exist, and is still shown as part of Budd Inlet. The map locates numerous inlets of Puget Sound including Budd, Henderson, Totten, and Eld, and Hope Island. Shows the extent of the large Terryett Prairie and a large unsurveyed area northwest of Black River. Delineates the rivers and creeks and many lakes including Black, Crooked, Patterson's, Long and Clear. The lands of Native Americans are noted. Loose in the back of the atlas are numerous manuscript field survey drawings. One of these maps is centered on Bigelow Lake and is signed C.O. Mannes, Civil Engineer Olympia, Mar 25th 1919. Plus a lithographed map of downtown Olympia noting the proposed rail depot, and a proposed dock at the end of Main Street. Wide folio, hardbound half leather and brown cloth. The loose maps are rough on the edges. The maps in the atlas are very good. Binding is very rough, spine cap is missing.

Accompanied by another folio volume that is a ledger of property/land transactions in records for Olympia dated 1892 - 1910. The pages, which must number at least 150, are unnumbered but are completely filled with entries. Important names and business are mentioned including attorney and developer O.C. Lacey and the Olympia Tribune (today's News Tribune) newspaper. All monetary transactions are recorded for foreclosures, title abstracts and continuations, blue prints, and much more. One curious line item shows $1.00 was paid for "Verbal Information." Folio, hardbound half leather and green pebbled cloth. Pages are very good with just a little soiling as one would expect from a working book that was used for nearly two decades! Binding is worn but sound.

References:

Condition:

See description.

Estimate: $500 - $650

Unsold

Closed on 6/1/2011

Archived