1858 Map No. 2 Rio Colorado of the West
Map No. 2. Rio Colorado of the West, explored by 1st Lieut. Joseph C. Ives, Topl. Engrs. under the direction of the Office of Explorations and Surveys. A.A. Humphreys, Capt. Topl. Engrs. in Charge, by order of the Hon. John B. Floyd, Secretary of War.
By: Joseph C. Ives Drawn & Frederick Wilhelm von Egloffstein
Date: 1858 (dated) Washington D.C.
Dimensions: 15 x 34.75 inches (38 x 88 cm)
The earliest scientific map to of the Grand Canyon region from the report of Joseph C. Ives; the first European American known to reach the river within Grand Canyon.
This spectacular map shows much of the New Mexico Territory from the California border to Fort Defiance and presents the first accurate depiction of the Grand Canyon, (Big Canyon of the Colorado) to be printed on a map. It also delineates the overland route of the Ives Expedition from Beal’s Crossing (day 59) to the south rim of the Grand Canyon (day 73) through the San Francisco Forest (Flagstaff, AZ), to the Moquis Pueblos, ending in Ft. Defiance on day 103.
The Ives Expedition of the Colorado River
Best known as the engineer and architect of the Washington Monument, Joseph Ives was promoted to first lieutenant in 1857 so that he could officially lead an expedition up the Colorado River from its mouth in the Gulf of California. The primary objective was to in gain intelligence on suitable supply routes in the event of a potential war between the United States and the Mormon settlements in their self-proclaimed state of Deseret.
Ives purchased a steamboat (featured on the original cover) in Philadelphia, had it disassembled and shipped to the Isthmus of Panama, moved overland to the Pacific coast and shipped north to the mouth of the Colorado River where the expedition would meet and begin their journey, launching on New Year’s Eve, of 1857. While no full-blown war ever erupted between the United States and Mormon Settlers of Utah, the expedition did mark the first exploration of the Grand Canyon, naming it “Big Canyon of the Colorado,” and offered new and updated information on the people, flora, and fauna of the region.
Condition: Map is in A condition, offering a sharp print on clean paper, without any staining along previous folds. The map have been professionally linen backed for preservation and presentation purposes.
Inventory #11864
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