Hitchcock was an eminent professor of chemistry and natural history at Amherst College and was selected in 1830 to conduct a general survey of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The publication of his first report and map in 1832 marked an epoch in American geological work as this was the first survey of an entire state conducted at public expense. This is the first edition that was reprinted in 1833. Hitchcock made further geological and mineralogical surveys and reprinted this map with revisions up to 1841. This is a very lovely map that has 22 geological formations shown through color and design, plus symbols to further locate deposits of plumbago, coal, iron, lead, copper and manganese. This early lithographed map was published by Pendleton's Lithography, Boston. These maps were issued in small quantities and are seldom seen, particularly in such good condition.

References: Marcou & Marcou No. 200; Phillips (A) p. 401.

Condition: A

A near fine example, folding as issued. Full margins and very fine original hand coloring.