1849 Greenleaf Map of Maine

This is Jeremiah Greenleaf's 1849 map of Maine.

A Closer Look

The map covers the state of Maine as well as adjacent parts of New Hampshire and Canada, including Quebec City. At this point, railroads penetrated Maine no further than Portland, underscoring the extent to which the state relied on its extensive river networks and road for transport. The map includes a ghosted northern boundary demarcation that breaks the map's border - an element inherited from the 1835 Burr source map, which, when it was engraved was an ongoing political conflict.

Historical Context

In 1841, Maine, which had achieved statehood just two decades prior in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise, was rapidly developing its own identity. Its vast pine forests were the backbone of a thriving lumber industry, which in turn stimulated shipbuilding in towns like Bath and Bangor. The expansive coastline supported a robust fishing sector, making Maine a pivotal hub for maritime activities. Additionally, the state's picturesque landscapes of mountains, lakes, and coastlines began attracting artists and early tourists, hinting at the role Maine would soon play as a revered destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking its tranquil beauty.

Northern Border Dispute

Of great interest, the map includes a ghosted northern boundary demarcation that breaks the map's border. The dispute over Maine's northern border was part of the larger Aroostook War (1838 - 1839), a non-violent confrontation between the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1830s and early 1840s. The disagreement stemmed from ambiguities in the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the Treaty of Ghent (1814) regarding the delineation of the boundary between British North America (later Canada) and the state of Maine. The contested region, rich in timber and known as the Aroostook Valley, became a flashpoint with both American and British settlers and lumberjacks moving into the area. Tensions escalated with both sides sending troops, but the conflict never resulted in direct military clashes. The border dispute was eventually settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which delineated the modern boundaries of Maine and what is now the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

Publication History and Census

This map is a much-revised Greenleaf issue of the David Hugh Burr / 'Illman and Pilbrow' map of 1835. The Burr map plates fell into the hands of Jeremiah Greenleaf, who revised them for publication in his own Universal Atlas. The present example is from the 1849 edition of the atlas, the last and final, which was extensively revised over the 1848. We note an example in the David Rumsey Map Collection, which has been populated digitally throughout OCLC, making a comprehensive survey of existing physical examples nearly impossible. Nonetheless, the 1849 edition of the atlas is rare, which Rumsey correctly notes is not in Karpinski. We do note an example, however, in Phillips.