PULGAS BASE. U.S. Coast Survey. 1854.
Pulgas Base California By R. D. Cutts Assistant U.S.C.G. 1854. Above title: (J No. 5) U. S. Coast Survey A. D. Bache Supdt. Lower left: Red’d Dr’ng by J.R. Key. Lower right: Eng’d by Apps. R. F. Bartle and C. F. Smith. Upper left: No. 45. Upper right: Lith. Bien & Sterner N.Y.

Inset upper right: “Sub – Sketch Showing position of Pulgas Base Vicinity of San Francisco Bay 1854.” San Francisco is shown at the upper left. In 1846 (during the Mexican-American War) the pueblo of Yerba Buena was seized by the United States and its name was changed to San Francisco in 1848.

Base lines are prepared for long surveys and for difficult to reach areas using precise triangulation. This one is approximately 6 ½ miles long and was laid out in San Francisco County, probably for the survey of San Francisco Bay.

KANSAS. Cram. 1896.
Kansas. 10"h x 14"w. Very good condition. Original color.

The explorer, Coronado, apparently entered Kansas in 1540. Kansas had been admitted to the Union in 1861. The capital, Topeka, was founded in 1854.

NEBRASKA. US DEPT. OF AG. 1914.
Soil Map. Nebraska. Thurston County Sheet. Upper left: U. S. Depart. of Agriculture. Bureau of Soils. Lower right: Field Operations. Bureau of Soils. 1914. Imprint: A. Hoen & Co. Lith. Baltimore, Md. 19"h x 31 1/2"w. Very good condition. Original color.

Legends outside right and left neat lines. With a scale of 1 inch equals 1 mile considerable detail is shown. Thurston County is located in northeastern Nebraska along the Missouri River.

NORTH DAKOTA. Cram. 1896.
North Dakota. 10"h x 12"w. Short black line at left neat line. Image in very good condition. Full original color. No cartographer or publisher is shown, but the map is from a Cram atlas of 1896.

North Dakota was separated from South Dakota in 1889 and admitted to the Union that year.

OREGON TERRITORY MAP IN PARKER'S JOURNAL. Parker. 1838.
Map of Oregon Territory By Samuel Parker. 1838. Copy right secured. Below bottom neat line: Eng’d. by M.M. Peabody, Utica, N.Y. 14"h by 23"w. Tape on short tear at stub.

Bound in Samuel Parker, Journal of an Exploring Tour beyond the Rocky Mountains … with a Map of Oregon Territory. 5th. ed. Auburn, New York: J. C. Derby & Co., 1846. Contents foxed. Howes P-89.

The map extends from North Latitudes 39 degrees to 56 degrees and from the Pacific Ocean east to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Parker had accompanied a fur-trading party from Council Bluffs to Walla Walla. This map is recognized as the earliest to show the interior of Oregon accurately. Shows locations of Indian tribes. Wheat, Transmississippi West, 446, and illustrated after page 166. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 70:5.

The map bound in the book. E6061M

UTAH. Dept. of Agriculture. 1904
Alkali Map. Utah Bear River Sheet. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Bureau of Soils Milton Whitney, Chief ... 1904. 31"h x 22"w. Folded. Short tears at two fold intersections; otherwise image is excellent. Color.

This is a large-scale map with 1 inch representing 1 mile. The alkali content of the soil is shown by color code for six levels of concentration. The rivers and streams are colored blue. Brigham City, Utah, is near the center right of the map. The Southern Pacific Railroad passes from the middle of the left side of the map southeast to Brigham City. Promontory, Utah, where the "Golden Spike" was set at the junction of the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads in 1869 is just off the map at the left. The Great Salt Lake takes up the lower left of the map. The shoreline of 1868 is shown with the lake occupying considerably more area at that time.

UTAH. General Land Office. 1906.
Map of the State of Utah Compiled from the Official Records of the General Land Office and other sources under the direction of Harry King, C. E. . . . 1902. Lower left: Compiled and drawn by J. Ulke. Andrew B. Graham Co., Photo-Lithographers, Washington, D. C. Lower right: Dec. 19, 1906. 17"h x 13"w. Separation at fold repaired with museum-quality material. Image in very good condition. Colored.

Shows county boundaries, Indian reservations, military reservations, forests, and townships. Only about half of the State had been surveyed at this time. Shows the Southern Pacific Railroad route through Promontory, Utah. A few years after this map was made (1902), a cutoff across Salt lake was completed and the line through Promontory was abandoned. Because of the dry climate, much of the original roadbed can still be seen. Promontory was the scene of the driving of the Golden Spike in 1869 signifying the completion of the transcontinental rail system.

UTAH. Ridd. 1962.
The Wasatch Front by Merrill K. Ridd. Under scale: © 1960, 1962 M. K. Ridd. 10 ¼” w x 14 ¾” h.

The map extends from Logan in the north to Provo in the south. Most of the Great Salt Lake is depicted. This is a relief map showing major man-made features, such as a “Uranium Mill” in Salt Lake City and “Geneva Steel” near Provo; both long gone.

Merrill K. Ridd spent much of his career with the Department of Geography at the University of Utah. He began investigations into geotechnical and biophysical hazards on the Wasatch Front as early as 1978. A case study in Davis County regarding multiple natural hazards (e.g. seismic risk, flooding, debris flows, landslides, wildfire, and ground-water problems) resulted in a three-volume report with very high quality maps. Formal coursework began in 1984 with a field and photo-interpretive course on Wasatch Hazards by Dr. Ridd. Dr. Ridd (and three others) formally established “The Center for Natural & Technological Hazards” at the University of Utah in 1990. In 1999 the center was reorganized with Ridd as Director. He was the author of dozens of technical publications. In 2003 he retired after forty years of service at the University of Utah.

UTAH & NEVADA. Mitchell. 1880.
County and Township Map of Utah and Nevada. Under bottom neat line: Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1880 by S. Augustus Mitchell …. 14 ½” h x 22”w. Very good condition. Original wash color.

Published in Mitchell’s New General Atlas … (Philadelphia, Bradley & Co., 1880).

Utah Territory had been created in 1850, but Utah was not admitted to the Union until 1896. Nevada was a part of the large Utah Territory during the years 1850-1861. It was admitted to the Union in 1864. The map shows railroads (the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met at Promontory, Utah in 1869, thus enabling rail passage from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast). Hachure lines are used to define the abundant mountains in these two states.

WASHINGTON TERRITORY. General Land Office. 1884.
Washington Territory. Above title: Department of the Interior General Land Office N. C. McFarland, Commissioner. Below scale: 1884. Lower right: Photo lith & print. by Julius Bien & Co. 138 Duane St. N.Y. Lower left: H. EX. 1. 2, 48. 29”w x 22”h. Original color. Faint toning at folds. Issued folding but now pressed and backed with archival tissue. Very good condition.

Published by the House of Representatives in publication: HR Ex. 1, 48th Congress, 2nd Session. The First session met December 3, 1883 - July 7, 1884; the Second met from December 1, 1884 - March 3, 1885.

This is a colorful county map of the territory with great detail throughout. It locates land surveys, Indian Reservations, military reservations, county boundaries, land grant limits and railroad lines. The topography is well developed with terrain configuration indicated by hachures. Railroad land grants are clearly shown with the 10 mile limits indicated through red color overprinting. Indian Reservations are indicated in red, and the applicable treaties are referenced. Most of the mountainous areas remain to be surveyed. Washington was admitted to the Union in 1889.

WESTERN FRONTIER. Abert/Hood. 1838.
Map Illustrating the plan of the defences of the Western & North-Western Frontier, as proposed by the Hon. J. R. Poinsett, Sec. of War, in his report of Dec. 30, 1837. Compiled in the U. S. Topographical Bureau under the direction of Col. J. J. Abert, U. S. T. E. by W. Hood. Upper right: 25 Congress 2 Session . S. No. 1. Doc. 65. 21”h x 15”w. Excellent condition. Map drawn by Washington Hood (1808-1840), then a Captain in the Topographical Engineers.

Published in Report from the Secretary of War ... in Relation to the Protection of the Western Frontier … January 3, 1838. Senate Document 65, p. 2, Serial 314. Reference Claussen, Maps Published by Congress, No. 182; Wheat, Transmississippi West , 427; and Wagner-Camp, The Plains & The Rockies, 72a.

The area covered extends from the Mississippi River to the Rockies. U. S. Army forts are shown; most are 150 or more miles west of the Mississippi. Fort Snelling is the northern-most; Ft. Jackson, the southern-most. Indian tribal lands are identified. A few roads are shown.

WESTERN REGION MAP IN FREMONT'S NARRATIVE. Greenhow. 1846.
Map of the Western & Middle Portions of North America, to illustrate the History of California, Oregon and other Countries on the North West Coast of America by Robert Greenhow. Compiled from the best Authorities by Robert Greenhow. 23"h x 25 1/2"w. Removed from text, cut into 15 sections and mounted on linen. Tear in lower right mended when backed. Trimmed to neat lines.

Published in John C. Fremont, Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the Year 1842, and to Oregon and North California, in the Years 1843-44. London: Wiley and Putnam, 1846. Reference Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 115-6 citing this specific combination of map and book. Howes F370. See also Wheat Maps of the California Gold Region, 22; the same map but in a history by Greenhow. Wheat indicates "This is a beautifully executed map ...."

The map extends from Mexico, which at that time extended into California and to the Great Salt Lake, to Alaska and Hudson Bay. Texas is named but not outlined. There are few details in the Southwest. The “Sandwich Islands” are in the lower left corner.

The book includes four lithograph plates by Day & Haghe: "The American Falls of Lewis Fork", "Hill of Columnar Basalt on the Columbia River", "Devil's Gate", and "The Pyramid Lake".

The map and book.

WESTERN REGION MAP IN EMORY'S NOTES. Emory. 1848.
Military Reconnaissance of the Arkansas, Rio Del Norte and Rio Gila by W. H. Emory, Lieut. Top. Eng’rs. Assisted ... by Lieuts. J. W. Abert and W. G. Peck … Constructed under the orders of Col. J. J. Abert. Ch. Corps of Top. Eng'rs. 1847. 30”h x 64”w. Opening at one fold intersection. An excellent copy of this rare map, usually missing from this report. Wheat TransmississippiWest, 544, stating on p. 6: “The map of Lieutenant Emory (including the map of Abert and Peck and the map of Cooke) is a document of towering significance in the cartographic history of the West.”

Published in and included: Col. W. H. Emory, Notes of a Military Reconnoissance from Fort Leavenworth, in Missouri, to San Diego, in California, including part of the Arkansas, Del Norte, and Gila Rivers. House Ex. Doc. No. 41, 30th Congress, 1st Session. Washington: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, Printers, 1848. 9"h x 5 1/2"w. 614 pages. Illustrated with 43 lithographed or engraved plates (3 are single-page battle-plans). This House issue contains the reports of Abert, Cooke & Johnston not found in the Senate’s 416-page Emory report. The Abert report has an additional 24 plates. The Johnston report has numerous sketches integral to the text. With all three maps called for, including the huge folding map in a pocket. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 148:5. Howes E145. Bookplates. Black cloth. Paper label on spine.

The two additional maps are:

“Map of the Territory of New Mexico, made by order of Brig. Gen. S. W. Kearney . . . by Lieut’s J. W. Abert and W. G. Peck …1846-7.” 25”h x 20”w. This map accompanies the Abert report. Wheat Transmississippi West, Vol. 3, Map 532, illustrated before p. 3.

“Sketch of part of the march & wagon road of Lt. Colonel Cooke, from Santa Fe to the Pacific Ocean, 1846, 7”. 12”h x 22”w. This map accompanies the Cooke report. Wheat Transmississippi West, Vol. 3, Map 505.

The maps and the report.

WESTERN REGION MAP IN HUGH'S DONIPHAN'S EXPEDITION. Hughes. 1848.
A New Map of Mexico, California & Oregon, Published by J. A. & U. P. James, Cincinnati 1848". 13”h x 9”w.

Bound in John T. Hughes, Doniphan's Expedition; Containing an Account of the Conquest of New Mexico; General Kearney's Overland Expedition to California; Doniphan's Campaign against the Navajos... 2nd ed., issue 2. Cincinnati: J. A. & U. P. James, 1848. Portraits of Doniphan and Price, xii, 407 pages. Text foxed. Bound in black cloth; front cover and spine restored. Howes H769. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 134:3 and indicating the book "is now rare and avidly sought". Wheat, Transmississippi West, 546. The book and map detail the activities of Colonel Alexander William Doniphan and General Stephen W. Kearney. See also Wheat Maps of the California Gold Region, 45, indicating: "It is too early for the gold discoveries, but shows the 'Route from Angeles to Santa Fe,' also New Helvetia, and 'Gen. Kearney's Route' on his return from California in 1847."

The map extends from Vancouver Island through Mexico. Texas is included. Inset of Yucatan Peninsula. “Doniphan’s and Kearney’s conquests gave the United States its claim to New Mexico and Arizona, finally acquired by the Gadsden Purchase.” Howes.

The book also contains:

A single-page city plan: “Plan of Santa Fe and Its Environs”.

A single-page map: “Plan of the Battle of Brazito.”

A single-page map: “Plan of the Battle of Sacramento.”

The book with its maps.

CALIFORNIA GOLD FIELDS, OREGON, TEXAS. Colton. 1849.
Map of California, Oregon, Texas, and the Territories Adjoining with Routes &c. Image is 18”w x 20 ½”h including ornate lithographed frame. Outline color and gold fields in yellow. Fold lines with one fold beginning to perforate. Map in very good condition.

Imprint: Published by J. H. Colton, No. 86. Cedar St. New York, 1849. Under scale: Ackermans lith. 120 Fulton St. N.Y. Bottom left: Entered according to Act of Congress ... 1849 ...by J. H. Colton ... New York. Bottom center: D. Appleton & Co. New York.

Bound in What I Saw in California. Being the Journal of a Tour, by the Emigrant Route and South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, Across the Continent of North America, the Great Desert Basin, and Through California, in the Years 1846, 1847. New York: Appleton & Co. 1849. Cloth. Fifth edition. Howes B903. Wagner-Camp 146:8 (this edition), Streeter 3147 (1st edition, having no maps). For details on this book see our entry under “Antique Books”

The book includes both the large Colton map identified above (Wheat Gold Region 73 and Wheat Transmississippi 593) and the small untitled frontispiece woodcut map of the California gold fields (Wheat Gold Region 67), neither of which appears in the 1848 editions. The map’s tie to this volume is indicated by the entry "D. Appleton & Co. New York" appearing below the bottom neatline.

The Colton map is one of the most famous maps of the Gold Rush. According to Wheat on page 75 of his Transmississippi, the map “is a combination of the 1848 Fremont and 1848 Tanner, with a big splotch of yellow covering ‘El dorado or Gold Region’”. An extremely desirable large map of the California gold regions.

WESTERN REGION MAP IN BOWLES ACROSS THE CONTINENT. Goldthwait. 1866.
Map of the Territories & Pacific States to accompany “Across the Continent” by Samuel Bowles. Engraved by J. H. Goldthwait. Under bottom neat line: Entered … in the year 1865 by J. H Goldthwait …. 13 ½”h x 18”h. Inset: “Plan of California on an Enlarged Scale.” Map has 4" tear. Original color.

Bound in Samuel Bowles, Across the Continent: A Summer's Journey to the Rocky Mountains, the Mormons, and the Pacific States, with Speaker Colfax. Springfield, Mass.: Samuel Bowles & Co., 1866. 7 1/2"h x 5"w. xx, 452 pages plus 5 pp. advertisements. Scattered foxing. Wheat, Transmississippi West, No. 1115 references the 1865 version of the book. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 410:2 with the comment: "The extra chapter in 410:2 'The Gold Mines of California and the Silver Mines of Nevada,' furnishes the reader with an engineer's view of the Comstock mines."

Shows planned railroad routes, mail routes, and emigrant routes.

The map bound in the book.

WESTERN RR SURVEY. Wheeler. 1872.
Explorations and Surveys South of Central Pacific R.R. War Department Preliminary Topographical Map Embracing in skeleton a portion only of the Notes from Surveys ... Instructions of Brig. General A. A. Humphreys, ... Conducted under the immediate direction of 1st. Lieutenant Geo. M. Wheeler... 1871. Louis Nell. Chief Topographer and Draughtsman. 28"h x 22"w. Sheet backed on archival tissue to reinforce fold lines. Very good condition. GPO, Washington, 1872. Wheat 1237, illustrated following p 338.

Near the upper left is a portion of the Central Pacific R.R. going through Elko, Nevada. Near the middle of the map are St. George, Utah, and the Grand Canyon. At the lower right is Tucson, Arizona; and at the lower left is San Bernardino, California. The rugged terrain is clearly depicted by hachures.