Catalog Archive
Auction 151, Lot 756

"Report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, showing the Operations of that Office since the 17th December, 1838", General Land Office

Subject: Exploration and Surveys

Period: 1839 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
5.5 x 9 inches
14 x 22.9 cm
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This report contains eleven early maps by the General Land Office. Each map is drawn on the scale of 18 miles per inch and all are hand colored.

A. Sketch of the Public Surveys in the North Part of Michigan (13 x 21.5"). By W.J. Stone this map locates Grand Traverse Bay, Saginaw Bay, Mackinaw Island and shows good watershed detail north from the Kalamazoo River. Condition: There is a binding tear confined to blank space at right, some toning in the top margin, and a small hole at a fold intersection. (B+)

B. Sketch of the Public Surveys in Iowa Territory (7 x 11"). By W.J. Stone this map is centered on Iowa City and locates Salem, Bloomfield, Eldford, Davenport, etc. Good watershed detail and the townships are colored to indicate the progress of surveys. Condition: Light toning in the top blank margin. (A)

C. Sketch of the Public Surveys in Wisconsin (12 x 11"). Extends from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay and also to show part of the valley of the Wisconsin River where Grigon's Trading & Farming Establishment, several mills including Conant's, and Whitneys, and Yellow Banks and Plover Portage are identified. Locates the lands of the Stockbridge and Oneida Indians. Condition: Light toning and scattered foxing. (B)

D. Diagram of the State of Illinois (12 x 21.5"). Shows the entire state with townships hand colored to indicate the progress of surveys. Major towns are located. Condition: Light toning with a binding trim confined to blank space at left. (B+)

E. Diagram of the State of Missouri, 1839 (22 x 18"). Shows the entire state with townships hand colored to indicate the progress of surveys, which is in very early stage. Major towns are located. Condition: Light scattered foxing mostly in the blank margins. (B+)

F. Arkansas, 1839 (17 x 17"). Very nicely color using a wider pallet than normally seen in early GLO maps. Great detail of watershed and towns and settlements in the state. The region in the southwest is Disputed Territory. Condition: Light scattered foxing mostly in the blank margins. (B+)

G. [Four maps of Louisiana] Map of the South Western District (10 x 13"); South Eastern District (11 x 8"); Map of the District North of Red River (9 x 8.5"); and St. Helena District (8 x 5"). Each township is noted and the hand colored one indicate the progress of surveys. Condition: Light toning mostly in blank margins and a few spots of foxing. (B+)

H. A Plat Exhibiting the State of the Survey in the Territory of Florida (22.5 x 11"). This early, interesting map shows the status of public land surveys in the Eastern and Western Land Districts of the Florida Panhandle. Red outlines the boundary of the Forbes Purchase. St. Augustine, Amelia Island, and Tallahassee are named. An area outlined in red is designated "Supposed Indian Boundary Line" while the legend indicates that red outlining is used to indicate proposed new survey areas. Survey efforts in south Florida continue to be hampered by the guerilla warfare of the Second Seminole War (1837-1842). From the Surveyors Office in Tallahassee by Robert Butler Survey General Territory of Florida. Condition: Toning in top and bottom margin with some faint offsetting. (B)

References:

Condition:

Text pages are good with scattered foxing. Maps are good to very good. See individual descriptions above for condition codes.

Estimate: $150 - $180

Sold for: $120

Closed on 11/19/2014

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