Subject: California
Period: 1895-1924 (dated)
Publication:
Color: Printed Color
1) "Wilmington," Thomas Bros., Los Angeles, 1924. A folding pocket advertising map, overprinted with an ad for Seaboard Commercial and Savings Bank. Very detailed map showing each lot and ownership of larger parcels. Locates numerous buildings and businesses including the Consolidated Lumber Co., Toyo Fisheries, the Catalina Terminal, Ralph Chandler Ship Building Co., and much more. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad has numerous lines throughout the town and to the businesses along the harbor. (32 x 27") Folds into printed wrappers (4.5 x 7.5") tilted "Map of Wilmington" with bank ad that reads, in part "One Bank That Gives its support entirely to Wilmington. Do you Bank in Wilmington or Los Angeles? Think it Over." Ironically, the map was printed in Los Angeles. This is an early Thomas Bros. map that was published only nine years after their founding. A terrific ephemeral advertising map for which we find no prior sales or references.
2) "Map of Wilmington Harbor California Survey of June, 1893 Under the Direction of Lt. Col. W.H.H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers, By L. C. Easton…," Washington D.C., 1895. Enormous map with detailed soundings and extending to show some streets along the harbor, hotels, etc. Extends from Smith's and Rattlesnake Islands south to show all of the break-water and Deadman's Island. Locates the lines of the Southern Pacific Railroad. (62.5 x 28") Sen. Ex. 61, 53rd Congress, 3rd Session.
3) "Entrance to Wilmington Harbor, Survey of February 1894," Washington D.C., 1895. (25 x12.5") From the same report as the second map. This map focuses on the end of the break-water, which includes Deadman's Island. Filled with hundreds of soundings.
References:
Condition:
All folding, as issued, and with full margins. The first two are good with a little fold toning and some fold intersection splits. The latter is near fine less some tiny fold intersection splits.