Vintage Original 1847 - A Correct Map Of The Seat Of War In Mexico - Being A Copy Of Gen'l Arista's Map, Taken At Resaca De La Palma
New York: J. Disturnell, 1847. Folding map, 29 1/2 x 24 inches
In a 12mo. contemporary cloth folder, gilt-stamped front board
I believe this is first issue
An engaging map of the second year of the war in Mexico, designed by J.G. Bruff
The map shows the territory south of the Rio Grande to Vera Cruz, with inserts of Tampico, Monterey, the Gulf of Vera Cruz, and the battlegrounds of Palo Alto
The inset description of the battles of Palo Alto and Monterey illustrates the southward progress and success of the American army
HISTORY: When troops from General Taylor's Army on the Rio Grande broke through Mexican General Mariano Arista's forces at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma near present-day Brownsville on May 9, 1846, they captured his tent and baggage. Among the latter was a hand-drawn military topographic map of the Eastern Interior Department of Mexico. U.S. Army Lieutenants George Meade, Joseph Horace Eaton, and others made hand-drawn copies for distribution among Taylor's forces before Taylor had several copies and the original sent back to the states. Apparently, J. Goldsborough Bruff, a government draftsman employed by the Corps of Topographical Engineers in Washington, D.C., "leaked" the map to the New York Herald and approached New York map publisher John Disturnell who issued this printed version in 1847. The capture of Arista's map greatly benefitted Taylor since, for the first time, the Americans had a detailed map of northern Mexico south of the Rio Grande. Bruff's printed copy includes plans of Monterrey, the lower Rio Grande area, Tampico and its environs, and the Bay of Veracruz copied from French Admiral Baudin's chart. An American eagle with flags and banner adorns the top. The vignette at left depicts what was undoubtedly intended as "the gallant charge" of Captain C. A. May of the U.S. Army dragoons upon a Mexican cannon battery at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma.
CONDITION
Pre-owned
Pre-owned
Good Plus Plus
Boards with no evident soiling
Some separations along folds
Printed color bright and clean
Binding is tight
No other issues noted
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