Melish, John

Map of the United States with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1820



Dissected into 36 segments and mounted on linen (43 1/2 x 57 in.; 1104 x 1448 mm), contemporary handcoloring; a few separations at interstices, light scattered browning and faint offsetting. Contemporary green paste-paper covered board slipcase, manuscript label; extremities somewhat worn, loss of one side strip. Together with: John Melish. A Geographical Description of the United States, with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, Intended as an Accompaniment to Melish's Map of these Countries. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1816. 8vo (8 1/4 x 5 in.; 210 x 127 mm). Errata leaf tipped to front free endpaper, 4 engraved plans of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, 12 pages of publisher's advertisements and endorsements,  handcolored engraved folding map, and 3 pages of instructions and prospectus for constructing state and county maps of Pennsylvania; browned throughout. Contemporary half red roan over marbled boards; worn, upper board detached.  

Book: James Buchanan (signature)

Map: Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers, p. 187.  Book: Howes M490; Sabin 47431

Dissected into 36 segments and mounted on linen (43 1/2 x 57 in.; 1104 x 1448 mm), contemporary handcoloring; a few separations at interstices, light scattered browning and faint offsetting. Contemporary green paste paper-covered board slipcase, manuscript label; extremities somewhat worn, loss of one side strip. Together with: John Melish. A Geographical Description of the United States, with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, Intended as an Accompaniment to Melish's Map of these Countries. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1816. 8vo (8 1/4 x 5 in.; 210 x 127 mm). Errata leaf tipped to front free endpaper, 4 engraved city plans of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, 12 pp. of publisher's advertisements and endorsements, handcolored engraved folding map, and 3 pp. of instructions and prospectus for constructing state and county maps of Pennsylvania; browned throughout. Contemporary half red road over marbled boards; worn, upper board detached.
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The rare large issue, with fine handcoloring and original slipcase. Melish was the first publisher in the United States to specialize in geographical and cartographic works. First published in 1816, this was the first American-produced wall map depicting the country from coast to coast. Melish frequently revised and corrected the plates.  He published new editions in 1818 (five states), 1819 (two states), 1820 (eight states), 1822 (two states), and 1823 (one state) for a total of twenty-five different issues. Notwithstanding the many issues, the map has become extremely rare. The only copies to have surfaced at auction are four copies of the 1816 edition in the Streeter sale (22–23 April 1969, 6:3797–3800) and the present copy (Sotheby Parke-Bernet, 25 January 1977, lot 82).

The map is accompanied (although issued separately) by the second, enlarged edition of Melish's Geographical Description of the United States, signed on the title-page by James Buchanan.