Fascinating
rare German map of Texas, South Western United States
and California with emphasis on the Californian
Goldfields, engraved in 1852 - dated - prepared by
Joseph Grassl
and published by Joseph Meyer in his publication
Neuster Zetungs Atlas, Hildburghausen.
The map was published shortly before the Gadsden
Purchase which changed the prevailing boundaries between
Mexico and the United States. This results are rare
state border configuration which were all amended to the
boundaries we know today.
During the middle part of the 19th Century, there was a
tremendous interest in America as a land of opportunity
for many Europeans seeking a fresh start and land. Among
the most active immigrant groups were the Germans
travelling to Texas. This map offered a detailed
treatment of the region and includes a number of curious
boundaries. Texas still appears in a modified "small
Republic" format, with the upper half being a mis-configured
New Mexico Territory, still in the characteristic shape
in which it appeared when it was a Mexican Territory. A
similarly curiously shaped Utah Territory is shown, with
no actual boundary between California and Utah. Most
interesting is the appearance of Apacheria, which
appears to be treated as a possible territorial name for
the region below 35 degrees.
The map includes many Indian Tribal names, forts early
roads, villages and settlements in the Southwest. The
discovery of gold is prominently depicted in California
with a gold wash coloring. A nice example of this
interesting map of the Southwest.
Background:
The map covers the greater southwest from the 42nd
parallel south to include all of modern day California,
Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and
northern Mexico.
Grassl presents an early configuration of
this region rarely seen on maps - in fact this is the
only map post-dating the Mexican American War we are
aware of to depict it. The map is defined by a
pre-Compromise configuration of the Territory of New
Mexico, which takes center stage. Here where are seeing
an early bid for New Mexico statehood as a Free State
filed with congress early in 1850. The bid followed the
first New Mexico Constitution, approved by the State
Assembly in the same year. The state, as presented in
the New Mexico constitution roughly followed those
borders traditionally given to the former Mexican
Intendencia of Santa Fe, was to extend eastward to about
100 degrees, northwards as far as the Arkansas River,
and westward to just beyond the Sierra de Mimbres, a
southern extension of the Rocky Mountains.
This document appeared before the U.S.
Congress in the midst of a period of extraordinary
contention and rivalry. First, much of the territory
claimed by the first NM Constitution was also claimed by
Texas - in fact, the original Texas border, terminating
just east of the Sierra de Mimbres is marked on this
map, but not colorized. The second issue, one of
slavery, made the creation of a New Mexico state a
national issue with broad ramifications - especially as
it intended to enter the Union a Free State. The
Compromise of 1850 forced Texas to give up (or more
accurately sell) its claims along the Rio Grande as well
as its northern extension thereby placing it below the
Missouri Compromise line and entering into the the Union
as a Slave State. New Mexico meanwhile, was entered as a
territory without congressional voting rights and thus
committed as neither a Free nor Slave State. The
Compromise also established the western border of the
New Mexico Territory roughly along today's
California-Arizona border; however, the results of the
Compromise are not shown here.
One can only wonder at the cartographer's
intentions in rendering New Mexico according the early
constitutional boundaries rejected by Congress over two
years earlier. While it is conceivable that Grassl was
merely copying from outdated material, such as the 1828
Tanner map of Mexico, we think it unlikely, as he would
clearly have been aware of events in United States and
it is inconsistent with his other generally meticulous
work. It is more likely that Grassl was carto-advocating
for an anti-slavery position and playing to his
generally abolitionist German audience by showing
support for the rejected New Mexico Constitution. In the
mid-19th century there was a great deal of European
interest in the western parts of the United States as a
land of opportunity and new beginnings - especially in
Germany from where vast numbers emigrated to the United
States, in particular to Texas and the greater
southwest.
Also of interest is Grassl's presentation
of the California gold region - here highlighted in
bright yellow. Though by 1852 most American maps no
longer highlighted the gold region, Grassl is once again
catering to his primarily Germanic audience by
presenting the American west as a land of wealth and
opportunity. He identifies 'Nueva Helvetica' in this
region. Nueva Helvetia, or New Switzerland, was a
Mexican-era settlement established near Sacramento by
Swiss pioneer John Sutter. It was here that James
Marshall, one of Sutter's most trusted employees, made
the historic gold discovery at Sutter's Mill. (Ref:
M&B; Tooley)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy & stable
Paper color: - White
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Yellow, red, green, blue
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 11 3/4in x 9 3/4in (300mm x
245mm)
Paper size: - 11 3/4in x 9 3/4in (300mm x
245mm)
Margins: - Min 1/4in (8mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - Place names underlined with pen
Verso: - None
If you wish to discuss this or any other item
please email or call - good luck, Simon.
Classical Images
61 (0) 409 551910 Tel
simon@classicalimages.com
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