1845 Morse and Breese Maps of Florida and New York

Maps of the Florida and New York City in 1845, issued for Sidney E. Morse's Cerographic Atlas. The maps are printed back-to-back. The more significant of the two maps, depicting Florida, captures the state as it emerged from the Second Seminole War and the United States solidified its control over the territory.

Florida (1:2000000)

The map depicts Florida at the end of the Second Seminole War (1835 - 1842). Coverage ranges from the Apalachicola River to the Atlantic Ocean and from Georgia to the Straits of Florida and the Florida Keys. Cities, towns, and villages are identified, including Tallahassee and St. Augustine. Limited roads and a rich network of rivers traverse the state. Several battles from First and Second Seminole Wars are noted. An inset map in the lower left corner depicts the western panhandle from the Apalachicola River to Alabama and from Alabama to the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1842, Florida, a land of swamps, dense forests, and a sprawling coastline, was transitioning from its Spanish colonial past to an American frontier territory. The end of the Seminole Wars that year led to the forced removal of most of the Seminole population, solidifying U.S. control over the region. The Armed Occupation Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress to incentivize settlement, granting land to settlers who would commit to bear arms and establish residences in the territory. These changes marked the beginning of rapid American colonization, bringing an influx of settlers drawn by the allure of its mild climate, agricultural potential, and strategic location. Yet, amidst these changes, the state's unique blend of Spanish, Native American, and African influences continued to shape its cultural and social fabric.

New York and Vicinity (1:44000)

The map covers most of Manhattan, to about 134th Street, as well as most of northern Brooklyn, the developed parts of Queens, including Ravenwood and Astoria, as well as Jersey City and Hoboken.

Publication History and Census

Both maps were engraved in 1842, likely by J. N. Nicollet. They were published in the 1845 edition of Morse and Breese's Cerographic Atlas of the United States - the first atlas printed the revolutionary cerographic process (wax engraving). The map is scarce but appears occasionally on the market.