George Franklin Cram was a civil war veteran who marched with Sherman prior to his career as a map publisher. In 1867, George F. Cram and his uncle, Rufus Blanchard, founded the company Blanchard & Cram in Evanston, IL. The company manufactured and sold maps and atlases. Cram became the sole owner two years later and renamed it the George F. Cram Company. They sold a wide variety of atlases including the popular Unrivaled Atlas of the World which was printed continuously from the 1880s to 1952. In 1921, George Cram sold his business to one of his largest customers, E.A. Peterson of the National Map Company. The company is to this day producing quality maps and globes.

Very rare atlas that contains over 100 maps featuring a hybrid of hand color and printed color. It reflects a transitional time period when printers used plates made by different processes. The maps, which have a focus on the United States, show the location of "all railroads, towns, villages and post offices." Each of the tipped in maps has a corresponding index describing the railroads, counties and towns. As with most of Cram's atlases, this example is not short on information, including 632 pp. of maps and text including numerous in-text illustrations. Hardbound in brown cloth with gilt title on front cover and spine. No copies found on OCLC, Rusmey, or any other online databases.

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Condition: A

Condition code is for the maps which are clean and bright with just a few minor spots mostly in the blank margins. Hinges are starting due to book weight, edges are bumped, and the covers are moderately worn and partially detached.