Catalog Archive
Auction 148, Lot 76

"North & South America; For the Elucidation of the Abbe Gaultier's Geographical Games", Aspin, Jehoshaphat

Subject: Western Hemisphere, Franklinia

Period: 1845 (circa)

Publication: A Complete Course Of Geography...

Color: Hand Color

Size:
16.9 x 13.5 inches
42.9 x 34.3 cm
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This is a very unusual and interesting map of the Western Hemisphere with a large inset of the United States, engraved for the "Geographical Games." The large inset shows the eastern United States, which extends to just beyond the Mississippi River. This inset gives a very late depiction of the proposed state of Franklinia. In 1785, settlers in western North Carolina and what would become eastern Tennessee organized a state government 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 appears on only a small number of maps and this is a late appearance of this frontier political experiment. This scarce map was not included in Baynton-Williams' Map Collector article, "Maps marking the American State of Franklin," (TMC-72, pp12). Engraved by Hewitt.

References:

Condition: A

Very nice example on blue paper with a strong impression, coloring, and full margins. There are a few small spots within the image.

Estimate: $300 - $400

Sold for: $425

Closed on 2/19/2014

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