Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico - photo 1
Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico - photo 2
Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico - photo 3
Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico - photo 4

Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico

Lot 198
26.05.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 69 300
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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Archive
ID 753037
Lot 198 | Report and Map of the Examination of New Mexico
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
Report and Map of the Examination of New MexicoJames Abert, 1848ABERT, James W. (1820-1897). "Report of Lieut. J.W. Abert of his examination of New Mexico, in the years 1846-'47." Pp. [418]-548. Bound with the following reports of both Philip St. George Cooke and Abraham Robinson Johnston, pp. [549]-614. Extracted from 30th Congress, 1st Session, House Executive Document, no 41. [Washington, D.C.: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, 1848.] Abert's foundational report on New Mexico, an extremely rare copy with the author's own corrections to text and hand-coloring of 24 extra illustrations. "This important survey was the first effort by the United States to map and examine the newly conquered territory of New Mexico, and an interesting Sante Fe Trail narrative"—Best of the West.James William Abert was the son of John James Abert, who, as commander of the Corps of Topographical Engineers was responsible for succesfully recruiting both John C. Frémont and William Emory. James Abert was a soldier-scientist in the same vein, serving under General Kearney in the Mexican-American War and identifying a new bird species in the same deployment. He was also an accomplished topographical artist. This present report is an extract from William Emory's Notes of a Military Reconnoisance, the first systematic mapping and scientific description of the country west of Santa Fé. According to Streeter, Abert's large map present here is the first issue of the first printed map of New Mexico made public by the War Department.The title-page of Emory's Notes includes the information that 250 copies be furnished for the personal use of Emory, Cooke and Abert respectively. The present copy is evidently from Abert's portion of this printing–presumably the smallest portion of the three as he was the lowest ranking officer so honored. The uncolored plates are of the superior issue which was printed anonymously (see Howes E-145) and the hand-colored versions are all credited to C.B. Graham, as more usual in the House issue. The attribution of the hand-coloring and the very numerous neat text corrections to the author himself derives from comparison of this copy with the one at Yale which is corrected and hand-colored in an identical or nearly identical manner. "Abert was a competent artist, and in addition to executing the originals, he handcolored the plates in a few copies of both of his reports. These are extremely rare. Examples of these, as well as original watercolors by him, can be found in the Yale Western Americana Collection" (Best of the West). Best of the West 101; Creating America 34; Graff 5; Howes A-11 and E-145; Sabin 22536; Streeter sale 168; Wagner-Camp 148; Wheat Mapping the Transmississippi West 532.Octavo (225 x 140 mm). Fly title. 24 uncolored lithographed plates, large folding lithographed map of the "Territory of New Mexico," and an extra suite of the 24 lithographed plates, hand-colored, and bound together at end. Cooke's report is illustrated with an additional folding map of the route from Santa Fé to the Pacific; Johnston's journal is illustrated with wood-engravings, including one full-page map. (A very few leaves and one uncolored lithograph browned.) Contemporary quarter calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in French (edges and spine rubbed, upper joint cracked). Custom chemise and quarter morocco slipcase.
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