Subject: Southwestern United States & Mexico, Texas
Period: 1846 (circa)
Publication: Travels Over the Table Lands and Cordilleras of Mexico
Color: Black & White
Size:
18.8 x 19.2 inches
47.8 x 48.8 cm
This uncommon map was issued in Albert Gilliam's Travels Over the Table Lands and Cordilleras of Mexico and features the Republic of Texas. The map is remarkable for its depiction of two possible Pacific railroad routes originating from New Orleans and Napoleon, Arkansas (near the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers). While Gilliam's ideas were visionary for the time (predating the Pacific Railroad surveys of the 1850s), they completely ignored any reality of topographical features and were simply drawn "as the crow flies." In addition to the two proposed railroads, the map nicely details Gilliam's route from San Francisco through Mexico, with a number of mines located and identified.
References: Wheat (TMW) #510; Wagner-Camp #120C; Howes #G179; Sabin #27412.
Condition: B
Issued folding and now flattened and backed with tissue to reinforce and repair a 6" binding tear at right. There is light toning along the folds, scattered foxing, and old tape stains at top right (the tape itself has been removed).