1892 Rand McNally Map of Alaska

A fine example of Rand McNally and Company's 1892 map of Alaska. It covers the state in detail, noting capes, rivers, mountains, bays and various other topographical features. Elevation is rendered by hachures. A small inset in the upper right quadrant of the map details the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea. This map of Alaska, printed on half the page unlike most other maps in the atlas, contains a list of districts, capes and points, islands, lakes, mountains, rivers and towns in the lower half of the page, below the printed map. This map was issued as plate no. 359 in the 1893 edition of Rand McNally and Company's Indexed Atlas of the World- possibly the finest atlas Rand McNally ever issued.

Cartographer

Rand, McNally and Co. (fl. 1856 - present) is an American publisher of maps, atlases and globes. The company was founded in 1856 when William H. Rand, a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, opened a print shop in Chicago. Rand hired the recent Irish immigrant Andrew McNally to assist in the shop giving him a wage of 9 USD per week. The duo landed several important contracts, including the Tribune's (later renamed the Chicago Tribune) printing operation. In 1872, Rand McNally produced its first map, a railroad guide, using a new cost effective printing technique known as wax process engraving. As Chicago developed as a railway hub, the Rand firm, now incorporated as Rand McNally, began producing a wide array of railroad maps and guides. Over time, the firm expanded into atlases, globes, educational material, and general literature. By embracing the wax engraving process, Rand McNally was able to dominate the map and atlas market, pushing more traditional American lithographic publishers like Colton, Johnson, and Mitchell out of business. Eventually Rand McNally opened an annex office in New York City headed by Caleb S. Hammond, whose name is today synonymous with maps and atlases, and who later started his own map company, C. S. Hammond & Co. Both firms remain in business.   Further Details...

Source

Rand McNally & Co., Rand, McNally & Co's Indexed Atlas of the World, (Chicago) 1893.    

Condition

Very good. Text on verso.

References

Rumsey 3565.154 (1897 edition). Philips (atlases) 1026 (1898 edition).