West, Pacific Northwest & Pacific
The Rare First State
Of a Very Early Americas Map
Western Hemisphere/ Southwest.
RAMUSIO, G. B./ GASTALDI, G.
[Venice, 1556]
The rare first state of an important and in some ways groundbreaking map. The woodblock for this map was destroyed shortly after its publication in a fire in November of 1557, hence its rarity. The map was compiled by the great Venetian cartographer, Giacomo Gastaldi, and appeared in a three-volume..... More
Rare, Striking 16th Century World Map
World.
JODE, Cornelis DE.
[Antwerp, 1589/1593]
A beautiful example of a world map that appeared only in the second and final edition of Gerard and Cornelis De Jode’s Speculum Orbis Terrarum. It was engraved by the younger De Jode, Cornelis, in 1589 yet was not published in atlas form until 1593 after the elder De Jode’s..... More
Ortelius’ Masterwork of the Pacific
The first separate map of the Pacific in a strong example. “One of the most important maps that appeared in the Ortelius atlases ...” (Burden). With its two splendid cartouches and a well-detailed illustration of Magellan’s flagship, the Victoria, this is also one of the most beautifully engraved of Ortelius’..... More
Superb Example of the First "Alaska" Map
"In many respects this map is the first printed map of Alaska." (Verner) However, much of what is shown here is imaginary, since most of the area covered by the map had not yet been seen by Europeans. The map does extend to northern California, so in its southern portions... More
A Dutch Map of North America of Beauty & Importance
A beautiful example of one of the earliest, acquirable maps to focus on what is now the United States. The Jansson-Hondius was also one of the first Dutch atlas maps to show California as an island, preceded only by the Hondius world map of 1630. A note on the map... More
A Fine Original Color Example of the Rare First State
The First in an Important Sequence of Maps
The rare first state of the map that set the standard for the mapping of the Western Hemisphere for the second half of the 17th century. "A map of importance ... it became the standard representation of North America for a number of years, [that was] copied by other Dutch... More
Scarce Map of the Islands of the North Pacific
Alaska/ Northeast Russia.
GERARDIN (Draftsman)/ CROISEY, J. B.
[Amsterdam, 1777]
A scarce, attractively engraved map focusing on northeastern Russia and including part of Alaska. It appeared in M. Marbault’s Essai sur le commerce de Russie…, which is an account of Russian trade as well as a history of Russian explorations in the areas depicted on the map. Some of the..... More
The Cartographic Emergence of the United States
An early map by the prestigious French mapmaker to include an engraved borderline for the newly founded United States as agreed upon by the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Also, the map’s title was altered from earlier states to incorporate the name (in French) for the United States, Etats Unis..... More
Magnificent, English, Large-Scale World
Notable for Northwest Passage & Texas Information New to this Edition
World Map/ Voyages/ Northwest Passage/ Republic of Texas.
HENRY TEESDALE & CO. (Publisher)/ DOWER, John.
[London, 1841]
A beautiful example in full, vibrant, period color of a majestic, folding world map. A rare issue with very important updates. The map is an extraordinary compendium of oceanic exploration and contains voyage tracks from the 15th century to those contemporaneous with the map including those relating to polar and... More
Rare American Whaling Chart of the North Pacific
Rare (one OCLC location), well-preserved whaling chart, presaging the opening of the Bering Strait and Sea of Okhotsk whale fisheries. When this chart was published in 1845, the American whaling industry was near its peak. However, by this time, the supply of sperm whales in the southern and mid Pacific... More
With the Important, Early Oregon Territory Map
Parker's important map, here with the complete text of his narrative, was based on both personal observation and reports of the fur traders of the Hudson Bay Company and is considered a landmark in the mapping of the region. It provided an excellent depiction of the river systems and tribal..... More
The Earliest, Useful Gold Rush Map
California/ Gold Rush.
LAWSON, J. T.
[New York, 1849]
Rare, separately issued, folding map. Superb example of the first useful map of the California gold fields, produced specifically for the use of prospectors and miners. It is also the very first map to actually name Sutter’s Mill. It is readily apparent how this map and others like it that..... More
Superb Pair of Pacific Coast Charts
With 27 Fine Coastal Profile Views
Scarce, finely engraved chart on two sheets of the entire west coast of the United States and including the southern portion of Vancouver Island. Each of the 27 coastal recognitions on the charts is delicately realized. These provided visual reference for the entry to the major bays and ports as... More
An Elegant Chart of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay.
BRITISH ADMIRALTY.
[London, 1856/ 1860]
A superb, scarce, very well-preserved, mid-19th century chart of San Francisco Bay and Harbor. Although a semi-official British chart, it was based on the survey of an American Naval officer, Lt. James Alden. Under the superintendence of Capt. Washington, the Admiralty office greatly increased its output and obtained surveys sources..... More
An Excellent Map of California & the Western States
In the First Edition
California/ Nevada/ Utah/ Arizona.
H. H. BANCROFT & CO./ KNIGHT, William H.
[San Francisco, 1864]
The scarce first edition, in a fine, vibrant example. This map was an early iteration of what Wheat called "the great 'map of the Pacific states'" by William H. Knight published in 1863, also by the Bancroft firm. This map and its many offspring established Bancroft as "the greatest map..... More
A State-of-the-Art Depiction of the Post-Civil War United States
A Beautiful Example of the First Edition
The first edition of the map that provided the definitive depiction of the United States at the conclusion of the Civil War. It would appear through the mid 1880’s in many, progressively updated editions. The map’s primary purpose was to record the progress of the surveys of the General Land..... More
The Finest Large-Scale Map of the Washington State Area
Washington/ Pacific Northwest.
WHITE, C. A./ G. W. & C. B. COLTON CO.
[New York, 1870]
Very scarce. This was the only large-scale printed map of Washington during the territory period, and it is certainly one of the most visually appealing ever produced of this area. Its publication followed a period of remarkable growth, when the population of the Territory more than doubled between 1860 and... More
Fine Early Nautical Chart
With Harbor Insets of Santa Barbara and San Diego
California..
JAMES IMRAY & SON.
[London, 1872]
An excellent nautical chart covering the California coast from San Francisco to the southern tip of the Baja peninsula and including the adjoining coast of lower California and Mexico. Among the chart's 21 harbor insets are ones of Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Diego and a very large... More
A Particularly Creative Map for Selling Railroad Lands
Railroad companies were the driving force behind much settlement and investment in the American West and Northwest, and maps were a primary tool in this effort. So voluminous were the publications of railroads that it necessitated the formation of the National Railway Publication Company, which produced this map. This rare..... More
An Excellent Map of California & the Western States
One of the Earliest with "Phoenix"
California/ Nevada/ Utah/ Arizona/ Phoenix.
A. L. BANCROFT & CO./ KNIGHT, William H.
[San Francisco, 1873]
A bright, vibrant example of a map of California and the western states by "the greatest map publisher of the Pacific Coast" (Wheat). The map descended from what Wheat called "the great 'map of the Pacific states'"--that of William H. Knight, published in 1863, also by the Bancroft firm. The... More
A Finely Detailed Portrayal of Early San Francisco
San Francisco.
HESS, F.
[San Francisco? 1874]
Scarce; separately published. A wonderfully detailed, panoramic view of the city seen from Nob Hill, with the ship-filled bay in the far background. Surrounding the primary view are 22 finely engraved vignettes depicting notable structures, lively streetscapes, and even a chaotic scene on a wharf featuring a brawl. The work... More
An Important Map of the Four Corners
And a Striking Example of Artistry in Cartography
Arizona/ New Mexico/ Utah/ Colorado.
MACOMB, Capt. J. N./ VON EGLOFFSTEIN, Baron F. W.
[Washington, DC, 1864/ 1876]
An unusually well-preserved example of a work hailed by Wheat as "one of the most beautiful maps every published by the Army." It is, moreover, one those rare maps whose geographic import matches its exceptional aesthetics. This “landmark map for various regions” (Wheat) was the first to display Macomb’s discovery..... More
Finely Executed, Large-Scale Map
California/ Railroads.
ROESER, C.
[New York, 1879]
Attractive, richly detailed map, important for the extent of railroad information that includes even small spur lines and stations. Also significant is the table listing 545 private land grants that are keyed to the map. Using the best available sources, the map was compiled from the official records of the... More
Attractive, Large-Scale Map
Nevada.
ROESER, C.
[New York, 1879]
An excellent map of the state compiled from the official records of the General Land Office and other sources by C. Roeser, Principal Draughtsman of the G.L.O. Mining operations and mountain ranges are shown in considerable details. It also shows rail lines, range and township lines, cities and towns, county..... More
Fine Pair of a Map & Views of Southern Wyoming
Centering on the Jackson Area
Two striking, large-scale sheets from Hayden’s The U. S. Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territory, Embraced by Idaho and Wymong... and based on surveys conducted in 1877 and 1878. With its vivid colors, the map shows the various type of geology found in primarily southeastern Wyoming. On the map... More