1847 Guide Map of the U.S., from Phelps's Travellers Guide, Antique Map

Offered is an original 1847 ornamental map of the U.S. entitled "Ornamental Map of the United States & Mexico" by Humphrey Phelps. The map was issued as an act of Congress by Phelps on Fulton Street, New York. The broadside is elaborately hand-colored. This is a very detailed and graphic propaganda map of the United States expressing U.S. dominance of the North American continent. The hand-colored map proclaims the Manifest Destiny, with the recent acquisition of Upper California and Texas at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War. The newly acquired land is boldly colored, standing in stark contrast to the rest of the U.S. The map details a potential route for a railroad running from New York City, to Buffalo, to Chicago, then west along the Oregon Trail to Oregon City. This route anticipates the construction of the transcontinental railroad by nearly 20 years. The map includes elaborately detailed renderings of George Washington, Hernan Cortez, and Montezuma at top to represent European expansion to the Americas. At bottom are four inset designs with text showing the following: a chronological history of the U.S. beginning from settlement to the U.S. victory in the Mexican-American war; an illustration of General Zachary Taylor with details on the Oregon Territory; an illustration of the Aztec Temple of the Sun in Tenochtitlan and a chronology of the Conquest of the Aztec Empire under Cortez; a portrait of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna...

Gleed, Charles S, ed. Rand, McNally & Co.'s Overland Guide From the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean Via Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., 1883. Revised Edition. Rebound in ¼ red leather and cloth boards, with original cloth gilt-stamped pictorial front board saved, new marbled endpapers, and a custom archival slipcase to match. Illustrated throughout with engravings. This is a “Revised Edition” of the Rand, McNally & Co.'s Overland Guide From the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, via Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The book was edited by Charles S. Gleed and published by Rand, McNally & Co., in Chicago in 1883. It has been artfully rebound in ¼ red leather and cloth boards, with the original gilt-stamped pictorial front cloth board saved, new marbled endpapers, and a matching archival cloth slipcase. As explained in the beginning of the guidebook, the purpose of the book is “to give the reader a satisfactory general idea of the States and Territories of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, through which the traveler passes in going from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean, or vice versa, entering or leaving California at its southern extremity.” Following the southern route of railways, editor Charles Gleed lays out in extensive detail information on each state, including population numbers, key industries, important towns and railway stations, farming and agriculture, mining opportunities, and weather patterns. Throughout the guidebook are countless engravings, both full page and in-text, from well known engravers of the time. Meant to further entice readers to take this overland journey, the illustrations offer views of key tourist spots, townviews, and scenic destinations, throughout the featured states of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The guidebook is also supplemented by pages of printed advertisements in the beginning of the book, showcasing local businesses, services, and wares. Charles Sumner...

Antique map titled 'Planisphère'. Original antique map of the world. This map originates from 'Abrégé de Géographie (..)' by Adrien Balbi. Pub...

Antique map titled 'Calcutta'. Original antique map of the city of Kolkata, India. This map originates from 'Abrégé de Géographie (..)' by Adrien Balbi. Published 1847.