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1866 Mitchell Map of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas
KansasNebraskaColorado-mitchell-1866$125.00
Title
Map of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, Showing also the Southern portion of Dacotah.
1866 (dated 1860) 11.5 x 14.5 in (29.21 x 36.83 cm)
1866 (dated 1860) 11.5 x 14.5 in (29.21 x 36.83 cm)
Description
A beautiful example of S. A. Mitchell Junior's 1866 map of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Dakota. Wyoming, though territorially included, was not incorporated as an official territory until 1868 - here it is noted as 'Attached to Dacotah.' Color coded according to county and territory. Counties cover only the eastern and southern portions of Nebraska and the eastern third of Kansas. Shows various proposed railroads, geographic features, American Indian tribes, and gold deposits as well as providing details on towns, counties, and other political data.
This map did not appear in the 1860 first edition of Mitchell's New General Atlas. Rather, it was introduced in 1861 following the formation of Colorado territory. The 1859 Colorado gold rush precipitated rapid development of the region by countless settlers seeking a new life and opportunities in the American 'wild west.' Identifies several overland routes including the former Pony Express Route (along the North Platte River), the Gunnison route o 1853, and the Santa Fe Trail leading into New Mexico. One of the most interesting and ephemeral maps of this transitional region to appear in the mid 19th century.
Surrounded by the attractive floral border common to Mitchell atlases between 1860 and 1866. Prepared by W. H. Gamble for inclusion as plate 43 in the 1866 issue of Mitchell's New General Atlas. Like many American map publishers of this period, though he did update his maps, Mitchell did not update his copyrights, consequently this map is dated and copyrighted to 1861: 'Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1861 by S. Augustus Mitchell Jr. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the U.S. for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.'
This map did not appear in the 1860 first edition of Mitchell's New General Atlas. Rather, it was introduced in 1861 following the formation of Colorado territory. The 1859 Colorado gold rush precipitated rapid development of the region by countless settlers seeking a new life and opportunities in the American 'wild west.' Identifies several overland routes including the former Pony Express Route (along the North Platte River), the Gunnison route o 1853, and the Santa Fe Trail leading into New Mexico. One of the most interesting and ephemeral maps of this transitional region to appear in the mid 19th century.
Surrounded by the attractive floral border common to Mitchell atlases between 1860 and 1866. Prepared by W. H. Gamble for inclusion as plate 43 in the 1866 issue of Mitchell's New General Atlas. Like many American map publishers of this period, though he did update his maps, Mitchell did not update his copyrights, consequently this map is dated and copyrighted to 1861: 'Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1861 by S. Augustus Mitchell Jr. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the U.S. for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.'
Cartographer
Samuel Augustus Mitchell (March 20, 1792 - December 20, 1868) began his map publishing career in the early 1830s. Mitchell was born in Bristol, Connecticut. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1821. Having worked as a school teacher and a geographical writer, Mitchell was frustrated with the low quality and inaccuracy of school texts of the period. His first maps were an attempt to rectify this problem. In the next 20 years Mitchell would become the most prominent American map publisher of the mid-19th century. Mitchell worked with prominent engravers J. H. Young, H. S. Tanner, and H. N. Burroughs before attaining the full copyright on his maps in 1847. In 1849 Mitchell either partnered with or sold his plates to Thomas, Cowperthwait and Company who continued to publish the Mitchell's Universal Atlas. By about 1856 most of the Mitchell plates and copyrights were acquired by Charles Desilver who continued to publish the maps, many with modified borders and color schemes, until Mitchell's son, Samuel Augustus Mitchell Junior, entered the picture. In 1859, S.A. Mitchell Jr. purchased most of the plates back from Desilver and introduced his own floral motif border. From 1860 on, he published his own editions of the New General Atlas. The younger Mitchell became as prominent as his father, publishing maps and atlases until 1887, when most of the copyrights were again sold and the Mitchell firm closed its doors for the final time. More by this mapmaker...
Source
Mitchell, S. A., Mitchell's New General Atlas Containing Maps of the Various Countries of the World, Plans of Cities, Etc., embraced in Fifty-Five Quarto Maps, Forming a series of Eight-Seven Maps and Plans, together with Valuable Statistical Tables, 1866 edition.
Condition
Very good. Blank on verso. Minor fox mark in western Kansas.
References
Phillips (Atlases) 831. Wheat, Mapping of the Transmississippi West … , 1030.