“WASHINGTON & OREGON TERRITORIES” New York: Charles W. Morse and Samuel N. Gaston, 1857. Wax-engraved map, with original hand color from The Diamond Atlas.(Image: 5 x 6’’)
This map depicts the Territories of Washington (statehood 1889) & Oregon (statehood 1859) with the counties named and in contrasting colors.
Topographical features are shown, and major cities, towns and waterways located. Both Territories extend eastward to include present-day Idaho (created as 1863). Indian tribes are located & “Emigrant Routes” are shown. It is very detailed for its miniature size (200 miles to 1 ½ inches).
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 technological 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 11x12'' mat
