1885 Martenet Map of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C.

A remarkable 1885 large format sectionalized map of Maryland and Washington D. C. by Simon J. Martenet. The represents the culmination of Martenet's mapmaking career, which he called 'A Beautiful Work.' When published, this map was considered the largest and best map of Maryland yet issued and was adopted by the State Legislature for administrative use.

A Closer Look

On an immense wall-map level scale, Martenet covers all of Maryland and Delaware, as well as Washington D. C. Insets include Baltimore, Hagerstown, Cumberland, Frederick City, Annapolis, Cambridge, Easton, and Chestertown. The whole folds into a worm but handsome binder.

Publication History and Census

This map was copyrighted by Simon J. Martenet in 1884 and issued in 1885. It follows on a similar map of Maryland issued in 1865, just after the American Civil War (1861 - 1865), but is a new and heavily revised edition with a different title. According to firm records, the map was updated several times until the plates were destroyed in the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. Nonetheless, we have found no surviving record of updated editions. The 1885 edition of this map, as here, we have found in just 3 institutions. The earlier version, 1865, is more common. Martenet considered the two editions completely separate works, despite their superficial similarity.