Colton's Map of the United States of America.

Folding map, [printed on thin banknote paper, 35 x 61.5 cm (13 1/2" x 24"), plus decorative boarder, folding into original embossed red cloth folder, lettered in gilt, Colton advertisement on top pastedown. Folder is 5 3/4" x 3 1/2". Very slight edgewear, very small fold tear, some darkening where attached, map bright and clean overall and near fine. J. H. Colton (1800-1893), founded the Colton map publishing company, and the Colton family published atlases for over 30 years. Colton's Atlas of the World was first published in 1855 in a large two-volume set. In 1857 it became Colton's General Atlas, and Colton's sons, George Woolworth and Charles B. would take over. However, during the 1850s, J. H. Colton was probably the most important U.S. geographic publisher. This is a handsome map of the United States that provides a good deal of detail on the Western Territories, including Oregon, Utah, Washington and New Mexico. According to Wheat the map shows explorations for Pacific Railroads. However, Wheat only refers to a later 1855 edition, which appears to be the same map. Interestingly, in that same year (1853) Colton appears to have also published a much larger wall map of the United States. Wheat Vols. 3 & 4. Osher Map Library. # 106020