“CALIFORNIA” New York: Charles W. Morse and Samuel N. Gaston, 1857. Original wax-engraved map, with original hand color from The Diamond Atlas.(Image: 6 x 5”)
This map depicts the new state of California (admitted 1850) the counties named and in contrasting colors. Topographical features are shown, and major cities, towns, islands, mountains, passes and railroads are located.
Neighboring Utah and New Mexico Territories are also partially shown (prior to Arizona and Nevada). It is very detailed for its miniature size (approximately100 miles per inch).
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 12 x 11'' mat
