Catalog Archive
Auction 206, Lot 180

Locates the New Gold Region of Colorado

"A New Map of the State of California, the Territories of Oregon, Washington, Utah & New Mexico", Desilver, Charles

Subject: Western United States

Period: 1859 (dated)

Publication: New Universal Atlas

Color: Hand Color

Size:
12.8 x 16.1 inches
32.5 x 40.9 cm
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This is the uncommon Desilver issue of this fine map of California with large western territories from an important series of maps originating with Samuel Augustus Mitchell. The map is filled with early county configurations, the exploration routes of Lewis and Clark, Fremont, Kearney, and Cooke, and the Spanish and Oregon Trails. Of importance is the delineation of the newly discovered gold fields in western Kansas (Colorado) with Gold Region printed along the Front Range from the South Platte River to the Arkansas River. In Washington Territory county development is mostly confined west of the Cascades. The state of Oregon had just formed, leaving its eastern half to Washington Territory, which is now shaped as an upside down "L", touching Utah in the south and with its eastern boundary defined by the Continental Divide. Utah Territory extends to Middle Park and Long's Peak in present-day Colorado with its eastern border against Nebraska and Kansas. The three vertical counties of Carson, Humboldt and St. Mary's form the beginnings of what will become Nevada. There is no sight of the future Territory of Arizona, but the region obtained in the Gadsden Purchase is labeled as "Uninhabited Region." Surrounded by Desilver's unique scroll border, with his imprint at No. 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

References: cf. Wheat (TMW) #890.

Condition: B+

Full contemporary color on a lightly toned sheet. There are some minor edge chips and binding holes in the left margin and a small dampstain in the bottom left margin.

Estimate: $475 - $600

Sold for: $600

Closed on 11/12/2025

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