Complete Example in Full Leather

"Colton's Illustrated Cabinet Atlas and Descriptive Geography", Colton, Joseph Hutchins

This is a nice and complete example of this increasingly difficult to find atlas. It is filled with some of Colton's most beautifully engraved maps. Each features the delicate floral-style border not seen in any other atlas produced by the Colton family. The frontispiece is a fine steel engraving showing a beautiful woman with a globe. The maps are by G. Woolworth Colton and the extensive text is by Richard Swainson Fisher. This edition includes 113 colored maps on 47 sheets. There are 18 sheets related to the United States and North America, with the map of the United States featuring early borders and oversized territories. The map Oregon, Washington, California, Utah & New Mexico is after the earlier map of the same area by Mitchell as published by Thomas & Cowperthwaite. To the south of New Mexico Territory is a small Arizona Territory, a precursor to the Confederate Territory of Arizona. Folio, original full leather with maroon embossed boards and gilt titling. Attractive A.E.G. 400 pages, frontispiece, 2 title pages, table of contents, list of maps and plans, text with wood-engraved vignettes, maps, and index. Several of these maps appear in no other publication.

References:

Condition: B+

The maps are very good to near fine with occasional light scattered foxing. The map of India is moderately toned. The frontispiece is chipped along the top edge of the sheet with a small damp stain along the gutter. The hinges are starting and have been reinforced with hinge tape. Front cover has a small chip in "Colton", otherwise light wear with edges bumped.