"Phelps & Ensign's Travellers' Guide, and Map of the United States, Containing the Roads, Distances, Steam Boat and Canal Routes &c.", Phelps & Ensign

This is the 1842 edition of Phelps & Ensign's Travellers' Guide which was first published for emigrants in 1838. The map extends west to just beyond the 95th parallel including the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri as well as a tiny portion of the Republic of Texas and Missouri Territory. To the north are Wisconsin and Iowa territories, encompassing present-day Minnesota and a portion of the Dakotas. The map is filled with details useful to the traveler including towns and villages, wagon roads, railroads, canals, rivers and more. On the frontier, numerous Indian tribes are located and named along with a large "Extensive Buffalo Plains" in present-day Minnesota. The map features 16 insets of mostly eastern cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and Chicago. Surrounded by a decorative floral border with fancy titling. Includes 53 pages of related text containing "Stage, Steamboat, Canal and Rail-Road Routes, with the Distances from place to place." Folds into brown blindstamped boards with gilt title on front cover (3.5 x 5.7").

References: Howes #P-291.

Condition: B

Issued folding with full contemporary color and scattered foxing. There are numerous fold separations, minute loss at a couple of fold junctions, a 1" tear in central Tennessee, and a couple of tiny tears in Missouri. Covers are worn and stained.