Very Unusual US-Mexico Border

"Mexico and Guatimala", Teesdale, Henry

This detailed map of Mexico and Central America extends to include present-day California and Texas. This map shows an unusual border between Mexico and the US. Mexico extends into present-day Texas, bounded in the east by the Sabine and Red Rivers. However, instead of the border then extending north to the Arkansas River before heading west to the Rocky Mountains, the US extends far south into the Balson de Mapimi desert. It is unclear whether this was an error on the part of the colorist, as we have not been able to find any other examples showing this same coloration. The region north of Texas is simply labeled Desert. New Mexico extends north into the Rocky Mountains. The rivers Timpanogas and San Buenaventura run straight into the Pacific. Locates many Indian tribes, forts and early settlements. Surrounded by a keyboard-style border. Drawn and engraved by J. Dower.

Henry Teesdale was a prominent London publisher and founding fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He produced large-scale maps and charts and a number of fine atlases in the early part of the nineteenth century. He employed the most skilled draftsmen and engravers and his maps are renowned for precise detail and fine coloring. His maps are increasingly scarce on the market.

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Condition: B+

Original color on paper watermarked "J. Whatman 1838" with faint toning along centerfold.