1865 "Johnson's California, with Territories of Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona" Map by Johnson and Ward

Presented is an original 1865 "Johnson's California, with Territories of Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona” map. First published in 1864, this map was issued as pages 66 and 67 in the 1865 edition of “Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas.” The map is engraved, with attractive hand coloring and a decorative strapwork border. The state of California is colored by county. Colored with a light wash are Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Depicted but not colored are the neighboring states and territories of Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and Mexico. 

The map is beautifully detailed. Rivers and mountain ranges are all mapped and labeled. There is very little development in Arizona and New Mexico. In California, there is a lot of new development, especially near gold and mining districts. Virginia City in Nevada, another mining area, is similarly very well detailed. Some areas near Salt Lake and parts of Colorado show more development. There are notes on wagon routes, mail routes, Native American tribes, and forts, and geological data showing mining and mineral deposits. The “Proposed RR routes for Central Pacific RR by Gov. Stevens” is also marked on the map. 

This 1865 Johnson and Ward publication of “Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas” was written by Richard Swainson Fisher, M.D. Fisher was also the author of "Colton's General Atlas of the World," "The Gazetteer of the United States," and a past editor of the Journal of American Geographical and Statistical Society. The publishing company of Johnson and Ward was a successor to Johnson and Browning, themselves a successor to the famous publishing company, J. H. Colton and Company. A combination of both new plates and older, updated ones, all of the maps in this atlas were compiled, drawn, and engraved under the supervision of J. H. Colton and A. J. Johnson. The new plates, copyrighted by A.J. Johnson, were made exclusively for Johnson's New Illustrated Family Atlas. Others are the same as used in "Colton's General Atlas." 

This early 1865 issued atlas offered a really unique and timely snapshot of the United States just after the Civil War. In addition to the maps, the atlas had several pages of American history, recent federal census data, and geographical and statistical notes. The highlight was its “Chronological History of the Civil War in America” with battle records and dates. It also contained updates on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and subsequent pursuit and death of John Wilkes Booth and included two Civil War-era maps, one of the “Vicinity of Richmond and Peninsular Campaign in Virginia” and the “New Military Map of the United States.” 

CONDITION: 

Fine condition overall. Hand Colored. Plate 66 and 67 from “Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas.” Strapwork border. Colored by county in California. Colored with a light watercolor wash in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Uncolored in neighboring states and territories of Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and Mexico. Publisher's Copyright line at bottom: "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of 1864, by A. J. Johnson, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York." Toning, few areas of foxing. Loss to bottom margin.

Map has been artfully and archivally framed with acid-free mats, UV conservation clear glass, and a custom-built wooden frame. Framed Dimensions: 22 1/2" H x 30 1/2" W x 3/4" D. 

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.