Tanner, Henry S. “A Map of the United States, of America; by H.S. Tanner.” From William Darby’s "Universal Gazetteer"

Henry S. Tanner.  “A Map of the United States, of America; by H.S. Tanner.”   From William Darby’s Universal Gazetteer. 

Philadelphia: Bennett & Walton, 1823.  15 1/4 x 12 1/2.  Engraving by H.S. Tanner on thin bank note paper.  Full original hand color.  With folds as originally issued.  Large left hand margin.  Two inch repaired tear right hand side.  Scattered spotting in map.  Diagonal printer’s wrinkle bottom right into neat lines.  Two small holes in Virginia and Missouri filled with old bank note paper and in-painted.  Archival tape along some folds to reinforce and flatten.  With Universal Gazetteer.  Front cover somewhat loose.  Else good condition. 

A superb and early frontispiece map of the United States by Henry S. Tanner.  Henry began his career in cartography working as an engraver for fellow Philadelphian John Melish, most importantly for Melish’s 1816 map of the United States.  Tanner’s work with Melish inspired him to go into map publishing, resulting in the 1823 publication of his important American Atlas.  Tanner continued to publish a wide variety of cartographic publications in atlases and as separate maps.  This map came from an account of the United States issued in 1823.

Accompanying the map is the informative gazetteer with original full leather binding and gold stamped label on spine.  The interior pages range from very clean to very brown (depending on the gathering) and some with spotting.  The massive text is all readable, and the constitutions of the twenty five states plus national government are a fine addition.