MELISH, John (1771-1822). Map of the United States with the contiguous British & Spanish Possessions Compiled from the latest & best authorities. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1816.
MELISH, John (1771-1822). Map of the United States with the contiguous British & Spanish Possessions Compiled from the latest & best authorities. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1816.

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MELISH, John (1771-1822). Map of the United States with the contiguous British & Spanish Possessions Compiled from the latest & best authorities. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1816.

Engraved folding map by J. Vallance and H.S. Tanner, dissected in 40 sections and mounted on linen, edged in blue silk, colored by a contemporary hand in outline, 912 x 1475 mm (a few small tears/nicks, some occasional pale staining). Folds with marbled end sheets.

THE FIRST AMERICAN-PRODUCED WALL MAP DEPICTING THE COUNTRY FROM COAST TO COAST. Apparently the fourth state, with Adelphi, Mansfield and Wooster added in Ohio and "Vevay or" added before "Swiss Vineyards" in southeastern Indiana. "An exquisite map, it distinguished Melish as the leading American map publisher of the second decade and placed American maps on equal footing with those produced by the prestigious firms in London and Paris. Incorporating data from state and military maps as these became available, Melish frequently revised and corrected the plates, limiting each printing to 100 copies" (Seymour I. Schwartz and Ralph E. Ehrenberg, The Mapping of America, Edison, NJ, 2001, p.238). Martin/Ristow 24; Streeter VI:3798.

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