Mitchell, S. Augustus "A New Map of the State of California, the Territories of Oregon, Washington, Utah & New Mexico"

S.Augustus Mitchell (1790-1868).  Plate 37.  “A New Map of the State of California, the Territories of Oregon, Washington, Utah & New Mexico.”  From A New Universal Atlas… 

Philadelphia: Cowperthwait, Desilver & Butler, 1854. 15 3/8 x 12 3/4.  Lithographic transfer from engraved plate.  Minor stain in upper right hand margin.   Full original hand color. 

A mid-century map of the western part of the United States, an early map to show the state of California and the territories of Utah and New Mexico.  This map by one of the leading U.S. cartographic firms of the period, is an excellent example of American mapping at an important time in the development of the western United States.  The area shown includes California, and the enlarged territories of Utah, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon.  The last two were part of the original Oregon Territory, which officially became part of the United States in 1846, and the other two territories were created just three years earlier.  Of note is pre-Gadsden Purchase southern border of New Mexico.

It is an updated version of a map that Cowperthwait, Desilver & Butler first issued in 1851.  The acquisition of the western part of the United States less than a decade before and its rapid development after 1850 meant that this map shows not only more knowledge of the topography of the region, but also a much more complex political configuration.  Detail is give of towns, rivers, counties and forts.  Also shown are some historic and current trails-for instance the Spanish trail from Los Angeles to Santa Fe and the Oregon Trail, not to mention explorer and survey routes.  Considerable information is also given of Indian tribes throughout.  This map revises an earlier map to show the new created territory of Washington which was created in 1853.