1873 Map Illustrating the System of Parcs, the Domestic Relations of the Great Plains, the North American Andes, and the Pacific Maritime Front
By: William Gilpin
Date: 1873 (published) Philadelphia
Dimensions: 21.25 x 22.75 inches (54 cm x 57.8 cm)
This is an authentic, antique map of the western portion of the United States, primarily from the Mississippi to the Pacific Coast. The map was published as part of the Mission of the North American People, Geographical, Social and Political in 1873.
William Gilpin was the first governor of Colorado and a major proponent of the transcontinental railroad, westward expansion, and the philosophy of Manifest Destiny, made popular in the 19th century for helping Americans believe that they were destined to expand their reaches from coast to coast and that the removal of Native Americans from their land was inevitable. He had radical ideas on how and why America should be populated, and to support his theories he did a series of maps including these three. Interestingly, they were some of the first to show economic potential for the West and to think in terms of regional resources and climates.
The map is divided into regions with a System of Parcs following the Continental Divide. Several railroads bisect the West including the Texas Pacific, Atlantic and Pacific, Kansas Pacific, Union Pacific and North Pacific. Many railroads are not named including two that extend south though Mexico. The map is color coded by regions differentiated by mountain ranges the directional flow of river systems from which they originate. Much of the topographic and hydrologic detail and conclusions are inaccurate, especially with regard to the four parcs located within the Colorado Rockies. Locations of Native American tribes, U.S. military forts, cities, and towns are noted throughout.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition with a few very small fold intersection separations, and a minor tear confined to the right margin. Overall image is clean, paper is bright and margins are near full.
Inventory #19160
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