A Map of Niagara River 4 Miles above and 3 below the Falls

Buffalo: E.A. Maynard Book and Job Printer, 1849. Folio (25½" X 19½"), folded into 24mo marbled paper over boards case with printed label. Very good. Original folds visible but with almost no separations; bit of wear to some map edges; case hinge delicate, but expertly, archivally strengthened, thus tight. A lovely, bold copy of this exceptional pictorial lithographed map, printed on unusually thin paper -- making this a rare survivor indeed. A large "Explanation of the Map" fills the entire lower left third, offering both detailed text on twenty specific numbered features on the map and panoramic lithograph of the Falls, while a small "Remarks" box at lower right offers details about the Falls. The map itself is dramatic and simple, showing the landmarks, streets and select buildings around the Falls itself. A boxed list of five hotels featured immediately below the map's title near the center suggests the mercantile nature of this map -- tourism. Printed label on front case board lists title as "Johnson's New Map of Niagara Falls" and includes a small steel-engraved vignette, while the front pastedown is a full-length portrait of an Indian. Rear board bears 1909 engraved bookplate of "The Americana Library of Charles D. Marshall," 1100 books and maps of which were selected by the Buffalo Historical Society and appropriately bookplated by permission of this wealthy collector's niece, Hazel Marshall Koerner, supposedly following her uncle's wishes; but the gift was never made official by the estate, and in the fall of 1913 the heirs demanded that the material be sent to a New York auction house, where it was auctioned to the public on March 16-18 of 1914. Interestingly, the David Rumsey Map Collection depicts a similar 1849 printing of this map, but it shows "H.G. Johnson" rather than "G.W. Johnson" as the cartographer, and the lower left corner of the Rumsey map does not show the "E.A. Maynard Book and Job Printer, Republic Office, Buffalo" which appears in fine print of this copy, below the "Copyright Secured according to Act of Congress -- 1849" citation that appears on both maps. Other 1848 printings, however, cite G.W. Johnson and show the E.A. Maynard text line, which suggests that the Rumsey copy is some other, perhaps later reprint.