Catalog Archive
Auction 171, Lot 198

"Map of Upper California by the U.S. Ex. Ex. and Best Authorities", Wilkes, Charles

Subject: Western United States

Period: 1849 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
11.5 x 8.6 inches
29.2 x 21.8 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This map covers all the American West south of 42° N. and west of the Anahuac Mountains (the Rockies) with by far the greatest detail in California, particularly in the Gold Region. In this later edition, the Colorado River has a more accurate course through today's northern Arizona. The map was drawn almost entirely from Fremont's maps of 1845 and 1848, replicating Fremont's famous topographical error, showing an east-west mountain range across the unexplored area of the Great Basin. The course of Mary's River (Humboldt River) is depicted with relative accuracy. Los Angeles is a tiny Pueblo de los Angelos.

References: cf. Wheat (TMW) #654; cf. Wheat (Gold) #135.

Condition: B+

Issued folding with light toning, minor scattered foxing, and some faint offsetting from an opposing page of text.

Estimate: $200 - $230

Sold for: $100

Closed on 2/6/2019

Archived