Mitchell, S. Augustus "Map of New Jersey"

S. Augustus Mitchell (1790-1868). Plate 12.  “Map of New Jersey.”  From A New Universal Atlas… 

Philadelphia: Cowperthwait, Desilver & Butler, 1854.  15 x 12 1/2.  Lithographic transfer from engraved plate.  Full original hand coloring.  Minor stain in upper right hand margin.  Very good condition. 

A strong and beautifully crafted map of New Jersey from the mid-nineteenth century, published by Cowperthwait, Desilver & Butler.  This firm took over the publication of S. Augustus Mitchell’s important Universal Atlas in 1850, and they continued to produce up-dated maps that were amongst the best issued in the period.  This map was reduced from Thomas Gordon’s excellent 1828 map, which was in effect the first official state map.  The map is filled with myriad topographical details, including rivers, towns, lakes and political borders.  The Cowperthwait, Desilver & Butler maps are especially known for their depiction of the transportation routes of the states, and this map is no exception.  The transportation infrastructure was extremely important at this period of increased immigration and travel.  This information is clearly depicted here, including rail lines, steamboat routes, canals and roads.  A series of tables gives distances between cities by stage, and another table gives population information.  The detail is very clearly and precisely rendered, and with the warm hand coloring this is a most interesting and attractive map of the state.