This is a scarce, colored variant of the first edition of the southern portion of the map known as "Warren's General Map." Hand coloring emphasizes the Indian tribal lands and a printed color overlay notes the location of forts and delineates the pre-Civil War military departments. Warren's note at bottom, dated May 1, 1857, acknowledges the new surveys from Parkes, Whipple and Long that were to be incorporated into the next edition. This edition was engraved by Selmar Siebert.

Warren's General map is a monumentally important map that is considered to be the first accurate overall picture of the West. Wheat considers it so important that he dedicated eight pages to its description and calls it the most important map produced by the Topographical Engineers. Drawn on the polyconic projection, the map culminated a half-century of government explorations beginning with Lewis & Clark. Warren was only 24 years old when he was assigned the task, and he used information from the U.S. Land Office, the Coast Survey, Topographical Engineers, the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General, the Indian Bureau, and Smithsonian Institution to obtain the latest information in developing this map.

References: Wheat (TMW) #936; Cohen pp. 172-5.

Condition: B

Some toning on centerfold with minor loss at fold intersections that has been arrested by professional backing with tissue. The map is archivally encapsulated in a removable Mylar sleeve for its protection and ease of handling.