1892 Rand McNally Map of Quebec, Canada

This is a beautiful example of Rand McNally and Company's 1892 map of Quebec, Canada. Centered on the St. Lawrence River Valley, this map of the Canadian province Quebec, or Canada east, covers from Pontiac to Saguenay, north as far as Lake Pipmuakan in Chicoutimi, and south to the United States border. Two insets in the upper left and lower right quadrants detail the northeastern portion of Quebec and the western portion of Quebec, respectively.

Canadian provinces and territories were under British and French control from the 16th century, until 1763 when France gave up its claims in the Treaty of Paris. even today, the official language in the province is French. Canada would remain a collection of British colonies until its confederation in 1867, when the British Province of Canada was divided into Quebec and Ontario and the British colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia incorporated as Canadian provinces. With the signing of the 1854 Treaty of Reciprocity between the United States and Canada, this area experienced a period of sustained growth and prosperity. The increased international trade that flowed into Quebec via the Hudson Valley inspired popular interest in the region. Montreal, Three Rivers, and St. Francis in particular benefited from the cross-border trade.

Color coded according to political boundaries, the map notes several towns, cities, rivers and various other topographical details with relief shown by hachure. This map was issued as plate nos. 218 and 219 in the 1895 issue 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., Foreign Countries. Rand, McNally & Co's Indexed Atlas of the World (Complete in Two Volumes)…, (Chicago) 1895.    

Condition

Very good. Minor wear along original centerfold. Text on verso.

References

Rumsey 3565.061 (1897 edition). Philip (atlases) 1026 (1898 edition).