1007

A Magnificent Third Edition of De Cordova's Monu A Magnificent Third Edition of De Cordova's Monumen

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:80,000.00 USD Estimated At:80,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
A Magnificent Third Edition of De Cordova's Monu A Magnificent Third Edition of De Cordova's Monumen
<B>A Magnificent Third Edition of De Cordova's Monumental Map of Texas</B></I> "The most correct and authentic map of Texas ever complied."- Sam Houston Jacob de Cordova/ Robert Creuzbaur. "J. De Cordova's Map of the State of Texas Compiled from the Records of the General Land Office of the State, by Robert Creuzbaur, Houston, 1851," ([Printed in New York]: [J. H. Colton], 1848 [1851]). Third edition. Copperplate engraving on four adjoining sheets with exceptional original hand color. 34 1/2" x 33" at outer neat line. Large oval inset map, l. r.: 9 1/2" x 11 5/8" showing New Mexico and Indian Territories bordering on the west and north. Technical and copyright credits: "Engraved by J. M. Atwood, New York"; "Entered According to Act of Congress on the 28th Day of July 1848 by J. De Cordova/ In the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the District of Texas." Also appearing are engraved facsimile seals of the state and the general land office and various certifications of accuracy with engraved facsimile signatures. Ms. pencil notations and rules roughly outline former grant boundaries (Robertson/Cameron?). Together with the original russet roan pocket-folder, blind-tooled and titled in gilt; very lightly rubbed. J. H. Colton advertisement pasted to inside of front cover. An extremely fine copy of this elusive Texas rarity. This most impressive of uncommon Texas collectibles was the brainchild of Jacob de Cordova, land promoter and early developer of the vast amount of territory acquired by the United States when it annexed the Republic of Texas. De Cordova, a native of Jamaica, was one of the earliest Jewish settlers in Texas. He supplied goods from New Orleans for the Texas Revolution and settled in Galveston in 1837. Hoping to cash in on the expected land boom following the Mexican War, he became a keenly enthusiastic land merchant who for thirty years promoted immigration into the state. In 1849, as part of his land campaign, de Cordova published the first edition of his masterpiece, "Map of the State of Texas," for which he hired to assist him Robert Creuzbaur, an employee of the newly created General Land Office. Their map was compiled from the latest surveys on a scale never before attempted and thus was one of the first major cartographic productions after annexation to be based upon the records of the General Land Office. So successful was the compilation that the map became the basis for all future Texas cartography. With the political geography of the state changing almost daily, the map functioned as an important document for immigration into Texas, particularly since the recent termination of the war with Mexico had permanently secured the Texas boundary. De Cordova's map of 1849 illustrated the full extent of the Texas claim by the inclusion of the inset map that defined the Texas boundary prior to the Compromise of 1850. The map offered here is the third or 1851 edition, the inset map of which is extremely important as the first edition to show the boundaries redrawn after the 1850 Compromise. Differing from the insets of the 1849 and 1850 editions, the 1851 records the newly set and nearly modern-day Texas panhandle. Significantly, it also shows the organization of Utah and New Mexico Territories, the latter of which resulted when the United States gave Texas $10 million for the land west of its new boundary. Oddly enough, however, the inset also shows New Mexico Territory extending all the way to the Pacific Ocean and thus encompassing southern California. This must have been the briefest of boundary determinations, as California became a state (with its southern boundary reaching to the Baja Peninsula) the year before the present map was published. Subsequent editions of De Cordova's map were issued up to 1872, with the inset map changing to reflect the rapidly shifting political geography of the American West prior to the Civil War. All in all, a superbly rare opportunity for the serious collector, an immaculately fresh, bright copy of the finest Texas map of the period in the decisively important third edition. Refs.: <I>Basic Texas Books,</B></I> p. 99; <I>Bryan & Hanak,</B></I> no. 23 (illus.); <I>Day and Dunlap,</B></I> 1032A; <I>Graff,</B></I> 920; <I>Handbook of Texas</B></I> (1952 ed.), vol. I, p. 480, vol. II, p. 22; <I>Martin & Martin,</B></I> no. 39 (illus.); <I>Phillips Maps,</B></I> pp. 844-45; <I>Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers,</B></I> p. 459; Taliferro, Cartographic Sources in the Rosenberg Library, 295A-C; <I>Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West,</B></I> vol. III, 603. <I>Courtesy of William Talbot.</B></I> Consigned Lot <BR><BR><b>This 2006 March Texas State Historical Association Charity Auction is being held in Austin, TX on February 12 - March 4, 2006. This is a charity auction. All proceeds from donated lots in the auction, commissions from consigned lots, and the buyer's premium go solely to the Texas State Historical Association. The floor auction session is by invitation only. Online bidding ends March 3, 2006 at 10:00PM CT. Your secret maximum bid will compete for you during the floor auction, and it is possible that you may be outbid on the floor after internet bidding closes. The applicable buyer's premium for this auction is an amount equal to 15% (minimum $9 per lot) of the successful bid on ebay. State law requires lots consigned (not donated) to THSA collect full sales tax on items that sell for a total of $5,000 or more. </b>
<BR><b>Important Information Notice</b> Texas State Historical Association 'TSHA' presents this Charity Auction in cooperation with Heritage Auctions, Inc. that has provided its production facilities, personnel, and internet, fax, and phone bidding services to support the auction. The auction is conducted under Heritage's standard auction terms and conditions printed in this catalog; however, TSHA is included within the definition of 'Auctioneer,' and the buyer's premium is 15% on ebay, and all items are sold 'AS IS' and without return. This catalog is available for view and bidding on the Heritage website. Heritage disclaims any liability for any act or omission pertaining to its provided services. Successful bidders shall pay Sales Tax on consigned lots of $5000 or more. Consigned lots may be designated in the catalog.