Lithographed map, below which is an ancillary "Map of the Principal Roads from Vera Cruz and Alvarado to the City of Mexico...," and beneath that, "Profile of the Road between Mexico and Vera Cruz"; inset of the Battle of Monterey. The main map is hand-colored. Overall 82x60 cm (32¼x23¾").
Map of wartime Mexico. Texas is treated as an independent country. Carl Wheat notes in Mapping the Transmississippi West, "Texas is shown with the Rio Grande and Arkansas river boundaries to their sources and the northerly panhandle to 42º north latitude. Upper or New California is for the most part bare of data, though Great Salt Lake is prominent, as well as the 'Great Spanish Trail to Santa Fe.' The Sevier River is shown flowing into the Colorado. On the Platte forts Laramie and [St.] Vrain appear, and the 'Trader's route to Independence, Mo.' extends easterly from Santa Fe. The Pecos River is labeled the 'Puerco.'" Warren Heckrotte discusses some of the states of the map: "There are earlier states of the main map; in both the portion below the main map is not included. One is dated 1846, and with copyright date 1846. The next is dated 1847, but with copyright dated 1846. Next is an issue dated 1847, copyright date 1846, but with additions below main map. Then an issue with both dates 1847 [i.e. this one]. The earlier issues have fewer rivers shown and fewer place names. Streeter had the first and fourth issues. Wheat does not note the earlier issues. This map appears to be based on that of Emory, 1844, but with additions from Fremont. Note that Heaston, Cat 28, 7/98, has 1851 copy [does not include lower portion]. There are additions, mainly place names." The present copy of the map is backed with rice paper. The map is usually found in a folder, but it is not clear whether this copy was issued in a folder since it does not show signs of sharp folds nor the dimensions between the folds associated with the size of the folder.
Provenance: Alta California Books, 1/81
References: W-GR 35. W-TW 548.