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1867 Mitchell Map of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania-mitchell-1867
$50.00
County map of the state of Pennsylvania. - Main View
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1867 Mitchell Map of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania-mitchell-1867


Title


County map of the state of Pennsylvania.
  1867 (dated)     12.5 x 15 in (31.75 x 38.1 cm)

Description


A beautiful example of the legendary American map publisher Samuel Augustus Mitchell Jr.'s 1872 map of the state of Pennsylvania. The map covers the state of Pennsylvania from Lake erie eastward to New Jersey as well as adjacent parts of New York, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The map identifies Gettysburg, where the Battle of Gettysburg, considered a major turning point of the Civil War, was fought in 1863. On another note, in 1859, oil was discovered in western Pennsylvania, leading to America's first oil boom and fueling the fortunes of John Rockefeller and others. This map also identifies various cities, towns, rivers and an assortment of additional topographical details. Map is color coded according to political boundaries with elevation rendered by hachure. One of the most attractive American atlas maps of this region to appear in the mid-19th century. Features the vine motif border typical of Mitchell maps from the 1866 - 1882 period. Prepared by S.A. Mitchell for inclusion as plate nos. 24 in the 1874 issue of Mitchell's New General Atlas. Dated and copyrighted, 'entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1867 by S. Augustus Mitchell in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.'

Cartographer


Samuel Augustus Mitchell (March 20, 1792 - December 20, 1868) began his map publishing career in the early 1830s. Mitchell was born in Bristol, Connecticut. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1821. Having worked as a school teacher and a geographical writer, Mitchell was frustrated with the low quality and inaccuracy of school texts of the period. His first maps were an attempt to rectify this problem. In the next 20 years Mitchell would become the most prominent American map publisher of the mid-19th century. Mitchell worked with prominent engravers J. H. Young, H. S. Tanner, and H. N. Burroughs before attaining the full copyright on his maps in 1847. In 1849 Mitchell either partnered with or sold his plates to Thomas, Cowperthwait and Company who continued to publish the Mitchell's Universal Atlas. By about 1856 most of the Mitchell plates and copyrights were acquired by Charles Desilver who continued to publish the maps, many with modified borders and color schemes, until Mitchell's son, Samuel Augustus Mitchell Junior, entered the picture. In 1859, S.A. Mitchell Jr. purchased most of the plates back from Desilver and introduced his own floral motif border. From 1860 on, he published his own editions of the New General Atlas. The younger Mitchell became as prominent as his father, publishing maps and atlases until 1887, when most of the copyrights were again sold and the Mitchell firm closed its doors for the final time. More by this mapmaker...

Condition


Very good. Minor overall toning. Blank on verso.

References


Rumsey 2483.015 (1870 edition).