This small map of the young United States includes several important historical regions and presents a fascinating view of the early history of the United States. One of the most interesting and scarce features on early maps of the United States is the appearance of Franklinia. In 1785 settlers in present-day western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee organized a state government with the state to be named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Congress turned down their appeal but the state maintained a legislature and governor until 1788. This ephemeral state appeared on a small number of maps into the early part of the 19th century. Another interesting feature is the region labeled Indiana that takes up what is now West Virginia. This land was a major contention between the private Indiana Land Company and the State of Virginia in the latter part of the 18th century. The argument over ownership of the property resulted in the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Land Company lost its claim to the land. Another uncommon regional name is New Iberia, the original Spanish settlement in the region of New Madrid. The large Western Territory takes up present-day Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. A table below the title lists twenty states (including Franklinia) with their founding dates.

References: Baynton-Williams (TMC) Issue 72, p.12, map 15.

Condition: B+

A nice example with original hand coloring on a sheet with some minor irregular toning. Margins with some light soil.