c 1857 UNITED STATES - Morse & Gaston - Western Expansion

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“UNITED STATES” New York: Charles W. Morse and Samuel N. Gaston, 1857. Wax-engraved map, with original hand color from The Diamond Atlas.  Two sheets, joined. (Image: 6 x 10 ¾’’) 

This scarce historical map depicts the United States in the 1850’s -The depiction west of the Mississippi River is quite interesting - prior to the formation of numerous western territories (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and Oklahoma).

Topographical features are shown, and major towns, cities, waterways, railroads (existing & proposed), wagon routes, and Indian Tribes are located.

An early map showing the recently acquired Gadsden Purchase (signed December, 1853), which extended the US border south of the Gila River.

The wax-engraving method was developed by Sidney E. Morse (brother of Samuel F. B. Morse - inventor of the telegraph).  Wax engraving was “a major techno-logical breakthrough that greatly influenced American commercial map and atlas production in the U.S.” (Schwartz: Mapping of America, p. 265). This map is an early example of the process.

Presented in an archival 16x12'' mat

  • Inventory# M-13643
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