1891 Bancroft Pocket Map of San Francisco, California

A stunning 1891 example of Bancroft's important city map of San Francisco, California. This map, and the Bancroft series in general, represent the finest commercially obtainable cartographic record of San Francisco's urbanization.

A Closer Look

This map covers the northern top of the San Francisco Peninsula from the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay and as far south as Rancho Canada de Guadeloupe. Bancroft employs shading to distinguish developed and undeveloped lots. At bottom, there is a numerical key wherein some 396 individual buildings are located and categorized. Concentric circles indicate half-mile distances from the ferries. Development extends as far as the Ocean Race Track. Rancho Laguna de la Merced, San Miguel Rancho, and Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe Rodeo Viejo y Vistación are at this point undeveloped. An inset at right details the greater San Francisco Bay area.

Publication History and Census

This map was first published in 1871 and enjoyed immediate popularity. Revised editions appeared in 1873, 1877, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1887, and 1891 (present copy). In 1873 two editions were issued with the latter of these two exhibiting a vast expansion of the map to include growth in the western part of the peninsula including Golden Gate Park and the surrounding lots. Some editions feature a light blue outline of the landfill in eastern San Francisco, but this was omitted from 1887 on. Sally Woodbridge speculates that 'it was not part of the original base map but was added because of special interest at the time.' Well represented in institutional collections but scarce on the market.