Mathew Carey was a seminal figure in early American publishing; establishing the first publishing firm to specialize in cartography and issuing the first atlas devoted exclusively to American maps. He set up an elaborate cottage system of craftsmen for compiling, engraving, printing, and coloring maps. This practice was emulated by later American cartographic publishers such as John Melish and Henry S. Tanner. The American Atlas concept was also adopted by other publishers in both the United States and Europe.

This uncommon map of Ohio shows early county development in the southern and eastern part of the state with the northwest corner still designated as Indian Territory. The old northern border is shown by a dotted line drawn directly east of the bottom of Lake Michigan to well above the mouth of the Miami River, just south of Detroit. This boundary would later become the subject of a dispute when Michigan applied for statehood. There are only 47 counties shown, of the 88 that Ohio has presently. A note in the Indian Territory locates Fort Miami there, with a mention of Indians defeated by Gen. Wayne, 1794, referring to the Battle of Fallen Timbers (August 20, 1794). This battle led to the Treaty of Greenville, which gave much of what became Ohio to the United States, paving the way for statehood in 1803. The Indian Boundary Line as settled at the Treaty in 1794 is shown at lower left. This is the second state of this interesting map by an important American mapmaker.

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Condition: B+

A nice impression with attractive color on a sheet with wide original margins. There is a little irregular toning and some faint scattered foxing. Centerfold reinforced with archival tissue on verso.