This French book, by Hippolyte Du Pasquier de Dommartin, focuses on the US-Mexico border subsequent to the Mexican American War. Du Pasquier de Dommartin wrote the book to campaign for the need for Europeans to maintain control over the unpopulated areas in northern Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico, and therefore prevent the ever-expanding United States from overtaking the area and gaining easy access to California. The book features the map Carte de la Concession des Terres Obtenues a Chihuahua par Decret du 11 Avril 1850, which depicts southern Arizona and northern Mexico. The map focuses primarily on the region west of the Rio Grande and south of the Gila River. Indian ruins, towns, abandoned villages and farms, early roads and mule roads are identified with a legend at right. The topography of the region is indicated by hachures. The map includes an inset of the southern United States and the Gulf of Mexico, with detail of towns, rivers, shipping routes, and the railway line from New York to Mobile, Alabama. The map is based on the reconnaissances of the author, de Dommartin, as well as the explorations of General Kearny and Lieutenant Colonel Cooke along the Gila River during the Mexican American War. After taking control over New Mexico, Kearny and Cooke headed west to blaze a wagon trail to California, battling Mexican military forces along the way. Engraved by L. Bouffard and lithographed by Lemercier. 88 pp. Quarter calf with marbled paper-covered boards.

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Condition: B

Map is in good condition with a few damp stains in blank margins and one small one at center of map. There is light offsetting and an archivally repaired binding tear that enters 2" into map at left. There are also damp stains and light scattered foxing in text, with some paper weakness and tiny chips along fore-edge. Covers are very worn.