This wonderfully illustrated chromolithograph of the United States served as the playing board for a children's game, but is remarkable as a standalone map as well. The game has players travel through a series of 200 locations with stops in every state/territory, beginning in the publisher's home town of Hartford, Connecticut. The players then "ramble" in a counterclockwise direction, heading west to Washington, south to California, east to Florida, and then up the East Coast to New York City. The map is lavishly illustrated with state capitals, points of interest, Native Americans, wildlife and natural features. Buffalo and wild mustangs fill Texas, Florida is mostly an alligator-infested swamp, and Kentucky features both Thoroughbreds and Mammoth Cave. Below the map is a large illustration symbolizing western expansion, with a group of Indians ready to ambush a passing train. At top right is the Statue of Liberty with the U.S. Seal and dedication "To the Rising Generation." Three editions of this map were published in 1881, 1886 and 1890 respectively. This is the first edition with the imprint of Bingham & Dodd at lower left.

References: Hornsby (Picturing America) p. 7.

Condition: B

Issued folding and backed on contemporary linen with some small losses along the fold lines in Utah, Kansas, and the Gulf of Mexico at bottom. There is light soiling and staining mostly visible along the edges of the sheet.