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1827 Finley Map of Alabama

Alabama-finley-1827
$175.00
Alabama. - Main View
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1827 Finley Map of Alabama

Alabama-finley-1827

Showing Creek and Cherokee territory prior to the Trail of Tears.

Title


Alabama.
  1827 (undated)     11.5 x 9 in (29.21 x 22.86 cm)

Description


A beautiful example of Finley's important 1827 map of Alabama. Depicts the state with moderate detail in Finley's classic minimalist style. Shows river ways, roads, canals, and some topographical features. Offers color coding at the county level.

Finley's map of Alabama is particularly interesting and important due to its portrayal of the rapidly changing American Indian situation in the eastern part of the state. In 1827 a substantial part of northeastern Alabama was a confined territory assigned to the Upper Creek and Cherokee nations. Finley's map details several contracting borders to this territory noting the 'Indian Boundary,' the 'New Indian Boundary,' and the 'New Cherokee Line.' Also notes numerous American Indian villages and missionary stations within the Upper Creek and Cherokee territories. Just four years after this map was made the Creek and Cherokee would forcibly relocated westward in the infamous 'Trail of Tears.'

This map is also of interest as it details a territorial dispute between Alabama and Georgia. Early surveying errors attributed the same territory to both states. Shortly before this map was made, the territorial dispute was settled on behalf of Georgia.

Title and scale in lower right quadrant. Engraved by Young and Delleker for the 1827 edition of Anthony Finley's General Atlas.

Cartographer


Anthony Finley (August 25, 1784 - June 9, 1836) was an American book and map publisher based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Finley was born in Philadelphia in 1874. He opened a bookshop and publishing house at the Northeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Street, Philadelphia in 1809. His earliest known catalog, listing botanical, medical and other scientific works, appeared in 1811. His first maps, engraved for Daniel Edward Clarke’s Travels in Various Countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa also appear in 1811. His first atlas, the Atlas Classica, was published in 1818. He soon thereafter published the more significant A New American Atlas and the New General Atlas…, both going through several editions from 1824 to 1834. Although most of Finley's cartographic material was borrowed from European sources, his atlases were much admired and favorably reviewed. In addition to his work as a printer, Finley ran unsuccessfully on the 1818 Democratic ticket for Philadelphia Common Council. He was a founding officer of the Philadelphia Apprentices’ Library, and a member of both the American Sunday-School Union and the Franklin Institute. He was also an ardent supporter of the American Colonization Society, an organization dedication to returning free people of color to Africa - which led to the founding of Liberia. Much of his wealth was dedicated to supporting this cause. Finley was active as a publisher until his 1836 death, apparently of a 'lingering illness.' Shortly thereafter advertisements began appearing for his map business and plates, most of which were acquired by Samuel Augustus Mitchell. More by this mapmaker...

Source


Finley, Anthony, A New General Atlas, Comprising a Complete Set of Maps, representing the Grand Divisions of the Globe, Together with the several Empires, Kingdoms and States in the World; Compiled from the Best Authorities, and corrected by the Most Recent Discoveries, Philadelphia, 1827.    

Condition


Very good condition. Original pressmark. Blank on verso.

References


Rumsey 0285.022 (1831 edition) Phillips (Atlases) 4314, 760, 752, 6045. Mason, Sara E., A List of Nineteenth Century Maps of the State of Alabama, 15.