If ever a map could be labelled as the progenitor of ‘Manifest Destiny’, this is it. One of the first to depict the full east-west extension of the present-day USA foreseeing the inevitable reach of the country to the west coast. It is hard to think of another nineteenth century map of America that had such influence. At this time most maps of America relied on the accurate information provided by the London firm of Aaron Arrowsmith. However, the accuracy was largely limited to the territory east of the Mississippi. This was the perceived western boundary in the minds of most Americans.

This example is of the first edition, fourth (third published) state of twenty-five cited by Walter Ristow. The first edition refers to those published in 1816 and bearing that date. There were seven states in all before the next ‘edition’ dated 1818, the first of which survives in one known example at the Library of Congress, is deemed a ‘proof’. The alterations for this state according to Ristow study were both in Ohio. The addition of the town of Adelphi and a new trail from Athens to Chillicothe.

Ristow calls it “A significant milestone in the history of American commercial cartography.” The map was originally intended to extend westwards to the Rocky Mountains only. At the last minute Melish decided to add two smaller plates to extend the map fully to the Pacific Ocean. As he states in his ‘Geographical Description’ published in the same year, this was done so that one may see “at a glance the whole extent of the United States territory from sea to sea”. He goes on to say that editions of moderate size only are prepared, so as to afford frequent opportunities of bringing forward new matter. The map is printed off 100 at a time, and before a new hundred be printed, the plates are carefully revised, and if there be room for corrections or improvements, these are made accordingly.”

John Melish (1771–1822) was one of the fledgling countries first specialist publishers focusing on geographical works. Born in Scotland his first visit to America occurred in 1806. He liked it so much he returned in 1809. His travels were published in 1812 and included eight high quality maps. The War of 1812 encouraged him to publish “A Military and Topographical Atlas of the United States”.

One of the more questionable borders of the period was that with Canada in the Northwest. In fact, two are depicted here, one engraved at one latitude, the other veering off along various rivers in present day Canada before returning to the parallel. The most important information in this region for Melish to incorporate was of course that from the Lewis and Clark expedition. “Lewis and Clark’s trail is well set forth on this remarkable map” (Wheat).

The Southwest includes detail from the explorations of Zebulon Pike and Alexandre von Humboldt, the whole being synthesized with great care. In the south he drew upon William Darby’s large-scale map of Louisiana which Melish had published the same year. This large map encouraged Thomas Jefferson to state on 31 December 1816 that it offered “a luminous view of the comparative possessions of different powers in our America”. He went on to offer advice on the true border of Louisiana, a territory that he had bought from France for the United States. It was the western extent of its boundary which was the source of Jefferson’s comment. The inevitable land rush which occurred following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 led to the United States and Spain entering negotiations to settle the matter. The result was the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819. It was to the Melish map that the parties turned to draw the border. Melish had drawn on the personal surveys of Darby along the Sabine River which became the agreed boundary. One error Melish did make in the region was in placing the 90th meridian some 90 miles off. This led to the dispute about the extent of the Texas panhandle which rumbled on for decades. It is also issued just five years prior to Stephen Austin’s decision to pursue his father’s contract for land in present day Texas. The map is highly valued because of the “widespread dissemination of new information concerning Texas geography” (Martin & Martin).

“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” (Schwartz & Ehrenberg). It includes an inset map lower right of the West Indies and an inset lower centre of a Statistical Table of the Several Countries Exhibited on the Map. There is an illustration of the national symbol of an eagle and shield above the title. The map was engraved by two of the best talents in America at the time: Henry S. Tanner and John Vallance.

Separately published maps are known to suffer a poor survival rate, this is no exception. Each state is rare due to the limiting of production to 100 examples. Most that survive are those which were cut, dissected and boxed which helped preservation.

Provenance: Private English collection of M. F. Wall. Cohen (2002) pp. 102-4; Howes (1962) M490; Martin & Martin (1984) pl. 26; Ristow (1972) ‘A La Carte’ pp. 162-82; Ristow (1985) p. 446; Rumsey Map Collection 5168; Sabin (1868-1936) 47431; Schwartz & Ehrenberg (1980) pp. 238-9; Storm (1968) Graff 2744; Wheat (1957) 338 & II pp. 62-4.