1865 "Johnson's North and South Carolina" by Johnson and Ward

Presented is an original 1865 "Johnson's North and South Carolina" map. This map was issued as pages 39 and 40 in the 1865 edition of “Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas.” The map is engraved, with attractive hand coloring and a decorative fleur de lis border. North Carolina and South Carolina are all labeled, outlined in pink, and colored by county. Depicted but not colored are the neighboring states of Virginia and Georgia.

The map is beautifully detailed, with railroads, roads, rivers and creeks, mountain ranges, and important cities and towns all marked. The map labels the Atlantic Ocean and Pamplico Sound.  The map has two inset vignette images of "Chimney Rocks and French Broad River" at top left and "Table Mountain" at bottom left. An inset map of the "Plan of Charleston, Vicinity and Harbor" is at bottom right, which has an even smaller inset plan of “Fort Sumter.”

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. Page 39 and 40 from Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas. Fleur de lis border.  Colored by county in North Carolina and South Carolina, uncolored for bordering states of Virginia, Georgia. Two inset vignette illustrations "Chimney Rocks and French Broad River" at top left, "Table Mountain" at bottom left. Inset map at bottom right, "Plan of Charleston, Vicinity and Harbor" with even smaller inset plan of “Fort Sumter.” Toning to paper, more noticeable in the margins.  Small foxing spots. Loss to the left bottom corner. Double page, 18" H x 26 1/4" W. 

Archivally framed with acid-free mats, UV Conservation Clear glass, and a custom built wooden frame. 




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