A Map of the United States of Mexico, as organized and defined by the several acts of Congress of the Republic

Book Description

Philadelphia: H.S.Tanner, 1826. Engraved folding pocket map, on banknote paper, with original outline hand-colouring, accompanied by the original red roan gilt covers, titled in gilt "Mexico.", modern red cloth chemise, all contained within a modern red morocco-backed slipcase, titled in gilt on spine. Includes inset titled Map of the Roads &c. from Vera Cruz & Alvarado to Mexico, as well as inset tables of distances and statistics. The map in good condition apart from a few splits at folds with minimal losses and minor creasing. 23 x 28 3/4 inches. Very rare first edition, second issue of Tanner's famed and fateful map of Mexico and its border with the U.S. The scarcity of this historically-important map can be judged from the fact that only the Streeter copy is listed as having sold at auction in the past half-century. For three decades following its first publication in 1825, Tanner's map served as the source map for geographical knowledge of Mexico, emerging territories in the Transmississippi West, and Texas. Tanner based the present map on the cartographical work of Alexander von Humboldt, Don Juan Pedro Walker, Zebulon M. Pike, William Darby, Bernardo de Orta, J. F. de Lángara y Huarte, and other sources. In the present 1826 issue, Tanner fatefully altered the southern boundary of New Mexico west of the Rio Grande; a mapping that would be reproduced in countless other mappings of the region, including the map used to establish the boundary between the countries as outlined in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican War. Tanner's map thus provides a primary example of how maps and mapmakers can influence history in a resounding way. This is the mother map that led to the controversy by which the United States obtained with the Gadsen Purchase the disputed territory needed for the southern railroad route and the Santa Rita mines. Tanner's 1826 map and its use as the source for Disturnell's Treaty Map led to the problems which proved to the public and the United States government the value of accurate maps and efficient surveys. Martin & Martin Contours of Discovery pp. 55-56; Martin & Martin Maps of Texas and the Southwest, 1513-1900, #37n; Ristow A la Carte p.207; Rittenhouse Disturnells Treaty Map, pp. 13-14; Schwartz & Ehrenberg, pp. 276-77n; Streeter Sale 3824; Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West II, pp. 89-90 (commenting on Tanner's original 1825 map on which the present 1826 version was based. #364n) & vol. II, pp. 229-230 (quoting Lawrence Martins sequence of editions of Tanner's map and his commentary); Wheat, Maps of the Gold Region #33n.

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