Early North American Maps from Donald Heald Rare Books

Item 3 is the final issue of British cartographer Aaron Arrowsmith's A Map of the United States of North America... Arrowsmith was the great mapmaker of the first quarter of the 19^th century. This map was first printed in 1796, this last, updated issue published in 1819. This version adds names for the states of Louisiana and Indiana, and the Missouri and Mississippi territories. An unusual feature of the map is the addition of two small flaps to extend it. In the northwest, a flap adds Lake of The Woods and Lake Winnipeg. At the southern end, another smaller flap adds the Mississippi River delta. $19,500.

Item 19 is a Map of the Gadsden Purchase (and adjacent areas of Mexico) by Herman Ehrenberg, published in 1858. It is the first commercial map of this then newly acquired land. There remained boundary disputes after the Mexican War. Meanwhile, southern interests wanted to see the transcontinental railroad take a southern route. However, the U.S. borders at the time would have forced the route into more difficult, mountainous terrain. A more southern route was preferable, but would have taken the road into Mexican territory. The new President, Franklin Pierce, was quite sympathetic to southern interests, so he appointed the Ambassador to Mexico, one time secessionist South Carolinian James Gadsden, to negotiate a land purchase. After various difficulties getting it through the Senate, a purchase was finally authorized in 1854. The price was $10 million. As shown in this map, it covers the areas of what are now southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona. It opened up a southern route from El Paso, Texas, to California. The largest city within this territory today is Tucson, Arizona, the largest city in the New Mexico section being the El Paso suburb of Sunland Park. A railroad was eventually built over the route, but not until 1881. $7,500.

Donald Heald Rare Books may be reached at 212-744-3505 or info@donaldheald.com. Their website is found at www.donaldheald.com.