1864 Mitchell Map of the United States

Shaping the West during the Civil War.

This is a Samuel Augustus Mitchell, Jr. map of the United States. While dated 1860, this map was published in 1864, at the height of the American Civil War (1861 - 1865). Over the intervening years, the map was extensively updated to reflect the changing balance of power in the United States as the war inevitably favored the Union, with visible effects on the political organization of the west.

A Closer Look

The map focuses on the continental United States, showing just beyond the southern border to Mexico and north into Canada. States and territories are made more distinguishable with wash color; national borders are emphasized with an outline color. The coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico are neatly engraved and shaded. Major cities are marked and named. Railways and mail routes are indicated, notably including the famous yet short-lived Pony Express. In the lower right corner are two inset detail maps of the strategic harbors of Hampton Roads (site of the famous battle between the Monitor and Merrimac) and Pensacola Bay.

Redrawing the West

At the same time the battles of the Civil War were being fought in the Eastern part of the United States, expansion into the west continued. The 1861 secession of the southern half of New Mexico Territory as 'Arizona' emphasized the need for the Union to encourage the accelerated recognition of territories and statehoods as loyal and slave-free. The map indicates not the 1861-2 borders of the Confederate Territory of Arizona, but the 1863 borders of the United States' Territory of Arizona, carved from the western half of the Territory of New Mexico. The Territory of Utah has been similarly divided, creating the Territory of Nevada (which, by the time this map was printed, had been granted statehood). The vast Nebraska Territory has been divided into the Dakota and Idaho Territories. The latter Territory includes the land now occupied by Wyoming and Montana.

Publication History and Census

This map was initially engraved by W. Williams and published in Philadelphia by Samuel Augustus Mitchell, Jr. for inclusion in the 1860 edition of his New General Atlas. It was updated several times in the intervening period. The 1861 edition can be identified by the presence of Confederate Arizona; it was also the first printing of the map to show Colorado. This present example appeared in the 1864 edition of Mitchell's General Atlas. We see just one example listed separately in OCLC, but the map does appear on the market.

Cartographers

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.   Further Details...

Wellington Williams (1814 - July 8, 1875) was an American engraver based in Germantown, Philadelphia. Williams was born in Bath, England. He emigrated to England as a young man, establishing himself in Philadelphia as a map and line engraver. He most notably engraved the maps for both Samuel Augustus Mitchell and his son, Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr. There is some evidence that Williams resented the relationship and derived little profit from the success of two Mitchell atlases. He also engraved for William C. Woodbrid and D. Appleton. In addition, Williams also published several maps and views under his own imprint. His home was located at 1857 Mervine Street, 20th Ward, Philadelphia. His offices were located in Philadelphia, on 5th Street, below Chestnut. He was interred at the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Old mend at bottom centerfold.

References

OCLC 34050079. Rumsey 0565.007 (1860).