1854 Map of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the West Indies with Central America, Showing All the Routes to California with a Table of Distances
By: Ensign, Bridgman & Fanning
Date: 1854 (Published) New York
Dimensions: 21.5 x 26 inches (54.6 x 66 cm)
This lovely pocket map with original color was published at the end of the California Gold Rush in order to illustrate all the known routes to California. This was a time when many territorial borders were in interesting configurations which would eventually evolve into states. Eight large territories in fact make up the majority of the territory covered by the Western United States, which would finally become fifteen states in all. These territories as named at the time included Washington, Oregon, Northwest, Minnesota, Utah, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Indian Territory. The map is rendered in great detail and includes transportation systems such as rivers, railroads, wagon roads and some railroad lines, in addition to oceanic shipping routes. These details extend to include portions of Canada, Central America, northern South America and all of the Caribbean Islands. Sea routes between various ports are painstakingly depicted, along with lovely vignettes of sailboats and steamships, with a table at the lower left listing the distances between ports.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition. Issued folding, now flattened and backed in heavy tissue to provide support and repair fold separations and a few minor tears. Some small areas of loss at some fold intersections and light toning along a few fold lines.
Inventory #10980
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