A very rare example of John Arrowsmith’s important Map of Texas, published in 1841 when Texas was an independent republic, is to be sold at auction by PBA Galleries in San Francisco on July 24th, 2008.

Produced a few years after Texas achieved her independence from Mexico, the finely engraved, hand-colored map was considered “the best and most useful map of Texas at the time of its publication,” as noted by Amon Carter Museum. The pioneer counties are well delineated, recently explored areas of the panhandle are shown, and, significantly, the western border is placed well into present day New Mexico. This latter feature, while satisfying certain expansionist sentiments among the Texan citizenry, helped spur the ill-fated Texan Santa Fe Expedition, when a party of traders and armed Texans was captured and marched 2,000 miles to Mexico City. They were freed the following year through U.S. diplomatic efforts, but the tension spawned by the incident was a contributing factor to the Mexican-American War.

The $25,000/35,000 estimate of the map is based not only on its historical significance, however, but also the great rarity of this particular issue. It is the “atlas state” of the second issue, or edition, of the map, printed on heavy paper with a single horizontal creased, with the date 17 April, 1841. The first issue of the map was published in atlas format in February 1841; the third issue, also in atlas state, came out in 1843. But this second issue is almost always found in William Kennedy’s Texas: The Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Republic of Texas, printed on thinner paper with multiple folds to fit into the book. To find the second issue of the map in atlas state, on thick paper, is practically unheard of. Additionally, the map on offer is in exceptional condition, clean, with bright hand-coloring, and no creases or other damage, making it prime example of collectible Texiana.

Auction info www.bibliobot.com

Posted: 07|18|08 at 10:05 am. Filed under: US News.