1850 Hypolite Ferry Gold Rush Map of California (Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon)

This is a scarce and overlooked 1850 map of Upper California issued by Hypolite Ferry at the height of the California Gold Rush. It is the first French-language map of the gold region issued to capitate on widespread French interest and investment in joint-stock mining companies.

A Closer Look

Coverage is broad, reaching from the Pacific as far east as Santa Fe and the upper Rio del Norte, and as far north as the Oregon Territory. The Umpqua River appears on the coast, and 'Oregone' encompasses everything above 42°N. The primary Gold Region in the Sacramento Valley is highlighted via shading.

The lion's share of the land depicted is assigned remains 'pays inconnu' - reflecting the old Mexican territory of Alta California. More than a dozen Native American peoples are noted, and the territory is traversed by two wagon routes: a northerly route from St. Louis and a southerly from Santa Fe. Via a key in the lower right, the map marks deposits of silver, platinum, mercury, copper, iron, lead, and sulfur, underscoring California's mineral wealth. In a whimsical flourish, the map is embellished by illustrations of regional fauna; we note a deer, a wolf, a grizzly bear, and a wild horse.

The map is derived primarily from the explorations of John C. Frémont (1813 - 1890) and the 1844 mapping of California by French spy Eugène Duflot de Mofras (1810 - 1884) - see our map californiaoregon-mofras-1844.

The California Gold Rush

The discovery of gold at John Sutter's mill by James Wilson Marshall (1810 - 1885) in January of 1848 was one of the most definitive moments in American history. Coming at the end of the Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848), the timing of the discovery could not have been more propitious. The combination of new seemingly unlimited territory and the lure of gold led to a stampede of adventurers, prospectors, merchants, and homesteaders eager for a new life on the frontier. The Gold Rush was not limited to Americans crossing the Great Plains. European, Australian, and even Chinese immigrants rushed into California hungry for their part of the great strike. This Great Migration transformed the United States in the span of just a few years from a former colony into an expansive transcontinental nation on the cusp of becoming a world power.

French Interest in the Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush drew global interest. In France, gold mining companies became the preferred model of capitalizing on the discovery. In theory, these joint-stock operations allowed French and American miners credit advances for supplies while giving investors in France a stake in the potential wealth. In early 1849, fourteen French companies emerged, raising over 28 million francs through share offerings advertised by French newspapers. However, most such companies were little more than Ponzi schemes and never sent ships, and those that did often dissolved upon reaching San Francisco as miners dispersed individually. Notable examples include the Sociétié Franco-Californienne, which disbanded due to insufficient funds. By 1850, the number of French companies surged to 83, driven by positive reports from early miners, leading to a second boom and share values reaching 200 million francs, with companies using various tactics, including maps, to attract shareholders.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared for Hypolite Ferry's Description de la Nouvelle Californie, the first French description of the California Gold Rush. It was engraved by F. Delamare and R. de la Harpe, printed in Paris by Imp. Bineteau, and published by Andriveau-Goujon. Scarce. We see five examples of the separate map in OCLC.