Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2009 Issue
Fine Antique Maps from Martayan Lan
Democrats' 1884 map of land given to the railroads by Republican congresses.
Item 14 is the first acquirable map devoted entirely to the Americas. It is the 1535 Fries edition of the Waldseemuller map. It is not well developed, showing only a corner of South America, Central America, and a North America unrecognizable to anyone today. It was a start. $15,000.
By 1579, Abraham Ortelius, in his Americae Sive Novi Orbis, had figured out Florida and the east coast of North America, Baja California, Central America, the Gulf of Mexico, and the major Caribbean islands fairly well. However, South America is something of a blob shape, not yet looking anything like reality. Ortelius also was a believer in the mythical gigantic southern continent. Item 15. $9,500.
Item 24 is a French map from Guillaume de L'Isle, Carte De La Louisiane Et Du Cours Du Mississippi... but the subject is America. It shows almost all of what is today the United States, though the year was 1718. It is particularly notable as the first printed map to show New Orleans, and the first to carry the name of Texas ("Mission de los Tiejas"). $25,000.
Item 26 is an unusual map placed on a broadside. It is an election poster for the year 1884, with the heading, How The Public Domain has been Squander. Map showing the 139,403,026 acres of the people's land - equal to 871,268 Farms Of 160 Acres Each Worth at $2 an acre, $278,808,052, Given By Republican Congresses to Railroad Corporations. This is more land than is contained in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. This is taken from the 1884 Democratic platform, which also calls for these lands to be restored to the public domain. They weren't, but Democratic nominee, Grover Cleveland, did carry the presidential election. $1,650.
Item 67 is sort of an early American roadmap. It is seven unbound sheets prepared by John Fremont and Charles Preuss, Topographical Map Of The Road From Missouri To Oregon. Published in 1846, this was the map you really needed to travel the Oregon Trail. It provides great detail of the route from those who had traveled it before the trail became crowded. It also offers topographical information and warnings such as to keep guard against the Pawnees, who, "if they do not kill, will at least take what they can from the travelers by force if they are strong enough, and by stealth if too weak to act openly." $8,500.
You can reach Martayan Lan at 212-308-0018 or info@martayanlan.com. Their website is www.martayanlan.com.
You will find many of Martayan Lan's books and maps listed in "Books For Sale" on this site. Click here.
