-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Pocket map of California
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 17:15:03 -0600
From: Doug Behm <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
From _http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/12643_ Barry Ruderman
Antique Maps
George H. Goddard came to California in 1850. In 1855, he surveyed a
part of the boundary between California and Utah Territory (now Nevada).
He later surveyed for the Western Pacific Railroad and for John Charles
Fremont. He also surveyed most of the important passes Sierra Nevada
Mountains. Mount Goddard still bears the name of this important early
surveyor. In 1855, Goddard compiled a manuscript map of California on a
scale of two miles to the inch. The map was a remarkable improvement on
the best available maps, so much so that Marlette, the State’s Surveyor
General petitioned the California legislature to purchase Goddard’s map,
stating that nowhere else can so complete and extensive a map be
obtained. After the legislature rejected the proposal, Goddard submitted
a version of the manuscript to Britton & Rey, who lithographed and
published it for the first time in 1857. Among its many distinctions, it
was the first map to accurately locate Lake Tahoe (here “Lake Bigler”),
derived from Goddard’s own surveys in the Sierra Nevada. The last
recorded example of the map to appear on the market was offered in
Warren Howell’s Catalogue 50, where Howell offered the Grabhorn-Streeter
copy. In part quoting Carl Wheat and Thomas Streeter, Howell described
the map in 1972 (Catalogue 42) as a beautiful example of the
cartographer’s art, is unfortunately rare and little-known … it was by
as by far the most complete and accurate map of California that had yet
appeared. Goddard, a talented surveyor, had first prepared a larger
manuscript map, using all available data, on a scale of two miles to the
inch, and the published map of 1857 was doubtless a re-drawing of this
map on a smaller scale. The wealth of information which now appears
throughout California graphically discloses the extent to which large
portions of this vast and hitherto empty land had been peopled. Gold had
swiftly done its work. The Goddard map is a fitting monument to the
frenzied activity and achievements of the gold seekers, and with it the
purely Gold Rush phase of California cartography comes to an end”
(WHEAT, 25 California Maps, 22). The map shows towns and settlements,
trails, wagon roads, and county boundaries. Relief is indicated by
hachures; numerous spot elevations are given; and physical features are
named. The scale is 1 inch to 24 miles. Coverage includes the western
half of Utah Territory and a northwestern corner of New Mexico
Territory--- the area comprising the future State of Nevada. A reduced
scale version, with revision, was published in 1858 and a new edition on
a slightly larger scale in 1860. While several examples of the 1857 map
have appeared on the market (Streeter Sale #2819 (1968--$200); Howell
Catalogue 42 (1972--$600) and Howell Catalogue 50 (Streeter
Copy—197--$600), no examples of either the 1858 or 1860 editions have
apparently been offered at auction or in a dealer catalogue. However,
while researching this map, we were fortunate to note that a copy of an
1858 edition, most likely the true 2nd Edition of Goddard’s map (this
example being called by Goddard the 3rd Edition), was sold in a private
transaction in 2005. This 1858 edition indicated that it had been
updated following the adjournment of the legislature in 1858. The
present example was originally issued as a folding pocket map, but was
apparently flattened and backed on linen some time in the latter part of
the 19th Century. Following the recent acquisition of the map, the old
linen was removed, the fold tears repaired and restored, and laid on
fresh linen. In all, good example of this exceptionally rare and
important California map. Wheat, Gold Region, 302; Wheat,
Transmississippi, 921; Heckrotte, California 49, 36; Streeter Sale,
2819; Phillips, America, p. 185.
======================================================
Douglas D. Behm [log in to unmask]
University Geologist
Office of Land Management and Real Estate Services
University of Alabama
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