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Copper-engraved map, engraved by Samuel Harrison, hand-colored in outline & wash. Printed on banknote paper, with folds. 40.6x49.2 cm (16x19¼").

Rare, apparently unrecorded issue of John Melish's important 1818 map of the United States, portions of Canada, and west to the headwaters of the Missouri, including the Northwest Territory, and the Missouri Territory with Texas. Overall, this example corresponds to Wheat's first issue, without Castle Rock and James Peak south of "Highest Peak" as added after Long's 1819-1820 expedition. However, there is not the small rectangular offset of land connecting Illinois to Lake Michigan, as with other known copies - the boundary of Illinois is more or less like it is today, without that offset. Other than that, the map appears to be printed exactly the same as the usual 1818 version, with the Missouri Territory extending into Canada, the inclusion of nearly all of Texas as part of the "Missouri Territory", etc. The margins of the present example, which was undoubtedly removed from a book, have been trimmed to or near the neat line, eliminating the imprint in lower margin, though the very top of two letters can be seen.