Catalog Archive
Auction 149, Lot 90

"Map of North America Designed to Accompany Smith's Geography for Schools", Burgess, Daniel

Subject: North America

Period: 1839 (dated)

Publication: Smith's Geography for Schools

Color: Hand Color

Size:
8.7 x 10.4 inches
22.1 x 26.4 cm
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An early example of this copper engraved map that shows the United States with a population of 17 million people. The Independent Republic of Texas with Austin as its capital is prominently featured. The entire western region is mostly unsettled with only a few place names including St. Francisco, Monterrey, St. Diego and Albuquerque. In the vicinity of Santa Barbara is St. Louis, a name we've not see on any other map. Alaska is a large blank area labeled Russian Possessions with the notation Unexplored Region, and Canada is labeled New Wales as well as British America. In the Northwest, the U.S. extends well up into Canada to the 55th parallel, an early indication of the tensions between the United States and Britain in their claims in the region. Mexico controls the entire Southwest and California up to the 42nd parallel. The Great Basin area is shown as the huge Great Sandy Plains, and the Great Salt Lake is too far to the east and simply called Salt L. The map extends to include Greenland, Central America and the Caribbean.

References:

Condition: B+

There are a few faint spots in the image and minor soiling primarily in the blank margins. Pencil notations on verso.

Estimate: $160 - $200

Sold for: $120

Closed on 5/21/2014

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