United States of America

by TANNER, H.[enry] S.[chenck] (1786-1858)

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Book Description

Philadelphia: published by Henry S. Tanner, 1834. Hand-coloured map in sections backed onto linen and edged with green silk, sheet size: 49 3/4 x 62 7/8 inches, 'engraved by H.S. Tanner, assisted by E.B. Dawson, W. Allen, and J. Knight', with integral decorative title vignette after J.W. Steel, the map surrounded by numerous small panels including 2 extensions to the area covered by the map, 6 more-detailed maps of environs of various eastern cities, 8 city plans, a number of elevation profiles of railroads and waterways, and 2 tables of statistics. Fine condition, except for occasional splits to linen. Loose within contemporary red half morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, titled in gilt on "spine," all within a modern red cloth slipcase. [With:] H.S. TANNER. Memoir on the Recent Surveys, Observations and Internal Improvements, in the United States, with brief notices of the new counties, towns, villages, canals, and rail-roads, never before delineated. By H.S. Tanner. Intended to accompany his new map of the United States. Second edition. Philadelphia: published by the Author, 1830. 12mo (7 x 4 1/4 inches). 8pp. publisher's advertisements at rear. Contemporary red half morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, spine gilt, shaped modern red cloth chemise, the map and the book in a single and red morocco-backed slipcase, lettered in gilt on the spine. A fine copy of Tanner's spectacular and very beautiful large-scale map from "the Golden Age of American Mapmaking," here accompanied by the explanatory text. The map and text are described in Tanner's list of "Maps, Chart, and Geographical Works" at the back of the text volume: "No. 69 A new and elegant Map of the United States on a scale of 30 miles to the inch [actually 32 miles to the inch, or 1: 2,000,000] - 5 feet 4 inches long, and 4 feet 2 inches high. price of the map with the accompanying Memoir on the materials used in its construction, $10.00." The Memoir was also sold separately for $1.00. The 1829 first edition of this map is described by Rumsey as "one of the best early large maps of the United States and the premier map for its period" (cf. Rumsey 975). The present map, taken from the same plate with some alterations, shows the United States from the Atlantic ocean to what today is western Kansas (noted as "Kanzas" on map). To the west of Michigan Territory and Missouri large areas of land include the locations of numerous Indian tribes but are designated as "Districts" rather than Territories: District of Huron, Sioux District, Mandan District, Osage District and Ozark District. Also included are canals, railroads, "McAdamized" roads and proposed canals and railroads. One of the most attractive and interesting aspects of the map are the numerous insets: these include 16 inset city and regional maps (Environs of Albany; Environs of Boston; Environs of New York; Environs of Philadelphia and Trenton; Environs of Baltimore and Washington; Cincinnati; Charleston; New Orleans; South Part of Florida; Washington; Baltimore; Philadelphia; New York; Boston; Pittsburg & Environs; Oregon and Mandan Districts [8 x 13 1/8 inches, with a further inset 'Outlet of Oregon River']) the border of the main map also includes 14 profiles of portages, canals, and railroads and 2 tables in the lower right corner: Statistics of the Western Districts, and Statistics of the United States. According to Tooley, H.S.Tanner is "thought to be the first native-born American to devote his career to publishing," and he is responsible for some of the most important maps of the United States to be published in the nineteenth century: an idea of his output can be garnered from the 80 items listed in the catalogue at the back of the Memoir. Tanner acknowledges the assistants who helped him complete this major undertaking, and the fine vignette title is also fully attributed as being the work of James W. Steel (1799-1879), a Philadelphia line engraver (cf. Mantle Fielding). Cf. American Imprints (1829) 40603; (1830) and (1832); cf. Phillips, America, p. 885 and 887; cf. Rumsey 975; cf. Streeter Sale 3835); cf. Howes T28; Ristow American Maps & Mapmakers pp. 191-198; Sabin 94318; Schwartz & Ehrenberg p. 253 ("Twice as detailed as Melish's map of 1816."); cf. Wheat Mapping the Transmississippi West II, #390 & p. 94 (illustrated), p. 96.

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