Catalog Archive
Auction 162, Lot 302

"Texas [on verso] Map of the Californias", Morse & Breese

Subject: Texas & California

Period: 1844-45 (dated)

Publication: Morse's North American Atlas

Color: Black & White

Size:
12.2 x 15.3 inches
31 x 38.9 cm
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This scarce, desirable map of the Independent Republic of Texas extends north to above the Red River to the Old Wichita Village, and west to the Presidio Rio Grande and the Rio Colorado at about 101° West. It is an early example of the cerographic engraving process, and was originally issued as a loose supplement, later bound into Morse's atlas. The map locates early land grants, counties, towns and missions, wagon roads, watershed, forts, and many other details.

On verso is Map of the Californias by Thomas J. Farnham and dated 1845. The map shows Upper California just one year before the Mexican-American war, which resulted in Mexico's loss of the region to the United States. It locates the pre-gold rush settlement of "Suter's" Colony just east of the southwest flowing Sacramento River with a Volcano nearby which is likely the Marysville Butte. Mount Shasta is here named Mt. Jackson with the Sierra Nevada mountains located between it and the coast. Farnham details an emigrant route that travels up the Arkiansas River to Farnham's Pass then across the country of Brown's Hole, to the Bear River, around the north shore of L. Timpanigos (Great Salt Lake), eventually to the upper San Joaquin and on to the bay at Yerba Buena, today's San Francisco. The map was drawn by Thomas J. Farnham, author of Travels in the Californias, based on his talks with the trapper Ewing Young and a letter from Dr. John H. Lyman of Buffalo, N.Y., who had earlier traveled on the Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe to Los Angeles. Of special interest are the small icons locating the twenty-one missions of Upper California.

References: Day (TX) #110; Wheat (Gold) #20; Wheat (TMW) #494; Rumsey #2301.

Condition: B+

Light scattered foxing.

Estimate: $550 - $700

Sold for: $400

Closed on 4/26/2017

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