1846 Radefeld Map of the Republic of Texas

An important 1846 first edition of Joseph Meyer and Carl Christian Franz Radefeld's map of the Republic of Texas in its final days, just before joining the United States. This map was issued shortly before the outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848) and, as such, constitutes the fullest expression of independent Texas, including a unique configuration incorporating New Orleans. Texas was of great interest to Meyer's primarily German audience, to whom immigration was actively promoted through a number of Texas-booster societies, some of which were legitimate and others which were outright cons.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces the Republic of Texas with its fullest boundaries and then some: mysteriously incorporating New Orleans, extending west to include Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and reaching amorphously north well into modern-day Wyoming. The map includes a detailed accounting of American Indian reserves established in the wake of forced relocations of the 1830s - the Trail of Tears. Roads, settlements, and topography, as well as a confusing array of boundaries and explorer's tracks are noted.

Texas including New Orleans?

The map is somewhat based on the seminal 1844 Emory map of Texas, the definitive US Government mapping of Texas during its period as a Republic. This map, nonetheless, features a unique configuration incorporating New Orleans. The reasoning behind this boundary is unclear. We see no evidence that Texas ever laid claim to New Orleans; however, it is undisputed that ties between the Republic and New Orleans ran deep and ranged from financing to popular support and significant military support, including disastrously at the Alamo.

The Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was a short-lived nation established in March 1836 when it seceded from Mexico. Following the independence of Mexico from Spain, the American Stephen Fuller Austin led a group of 300 Empresarios to settle Texas, near Austin, where they received a grant from the Mexican government. As more Americans moved to Texas, resentment and strife began to build between the American settlers and Mexican authorities. This and other factors ultimately led to the Texan Revolution in 1835 and the declaration of Texan independence in 1836. Texas remained an independent republic until it joined the United States ten years later in 1846.

Texas Borders

The borders of the Republic of Texas were in dispute from the earliest days of the Texan Revolution. The Republic-claimed borders followed the Treaties of Velasco between the newly created Texas Republic and Mexican leader, Antonio López de Santa Anna. The treaties established an eastern boundary following the 1819 Adams-Onís Treaty between the United States and Spain, which established the Sabine River as the eastern boundary of Spanish Texas and the western boundary of the Missouri Territory. The Republic's southern and western boundary with Mexico was more nuanced. Texas claimed the Rio Grande del Norte as its western and southernmost border, while Mexico argued for a boundary much further east at the Nueces River. When Texas was annexed into the United States, the agreement followed the Republic-claimed boundary, thus absorbing Mexican-claimed territory as far west as Santa Fe. This escalated already existing tensions between the United States, the former Republic of Texas, and Mexico, ultimately triggering the Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848). The present map is the only map we are aware of to include New Orleans within the boundaries of Texas.

Publication History and Census

This is one of several unique maps prepared by Carl Christian Franz Radefeld for the 1846 edition of Meyer's Grosser Hand-Atlas. This example is the first edition. The map was updated regularly in multiple editions, reflecting new discoveries and political changes through 1860. The first edition is extremely rare, as we note no history of the map on the market and few examples in institutional collections - often difficult to assess as many examples bear the same title and date despite significant updates.