Antique maps and prints of Arkansas

We supply genuine historical maps and prints by mail order - all are eminently suitable for framing and are offered On Approval, which

This short REFERENCE PAGE is designed to provide no more than a 'glimpse' of the history of ARKANSAS,
with a couple examples of antiquarian maps and engravings of the State and some interesting Links.

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Topography: Arkansas has an extent north and south of 240 miles; a breadth from east to west of from 170 to 250 miles; and an area of 53,850 square miles, or 34,464,000 acres.

The eastern portion of Arkansas is low and flat, but toward the west the land gradually rises and becomes somewhat hilly. The Ozark mountains in the north-west are little more than hills, seldom attaining an elevation of over 2,000 feet, and the extreme west consists of an elevated plain, with a gradual ascent toward the Indian Territory.

The most important river is the Arkansas, which rises in the Rocky mountains, flows through Colorado and Kansas, and thence southeast through the Indian Territory and Arkansas, to its junction with the Mississippi at Napoleon. It has a course within the State of 500 miles.

The Red, St. Francis, White and Ouachita rivers are all large streams and of much service in commerce. The Mississippi, here of great width, washes the eastern boundary of Arkansas, and gives it an additional water frontage of nearly 400 miles.

All parts of the State are finely timbered. These are extensive pine forests; also en abundance of oak, hickory, walnut, linn, locust, cypress, cedar and many other useful trees. The Hot Springs form one of the most natural phenomena to be found in this country. They are of great medical value and around these famous springs a town has grown up.

Climate: The temperature is moderate, ranging from 15º to 100º Fahrenheit, and frosts are seldom known.

The mean, annual temperature is about 63º; that of winter, 45.82º; summer 80º and the thermometer only rises above 90º during July and August.

The rainfall varies from forty to fifty-five inches per annum, the heaviest fall being the southeastern part of the state, and least in the northwest. In general the climate is very pleasant and healthful.

The northwestern portion of the State bears a high reputation as a sanitary resort.

History: Originally colonized by the French in the early part of the eighteenth century, Arkansas formed a part of the famous grant made by the Duke of Orleans, regent during the minority of Louis XV., to John Law. De Soto had reached its eastern boundary two hundred years before, and in 1673 Marquette and Joliet descended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Arkansas river.

From 1763 to 1800 the Spaniards possessed the land; for three years following, it was under French domination, and in 1803 it was ceded to the United States. It remained a part of Louisiana Territory until 1812, when the State of Louisiana was admitted into the Union, and Arkansas formed part of the Territory of Missouri.

Seven years later, Missouri adopted a State constitution, and what is now Arkansas became a territory, remaining so until June 15, 1836, when was also admitted into the sisterhood of States. From this time until the outbreak of the Civil war, the internal history of the State forms a record of gradual development in wealth and population.

In the twenty years from 1840 to 1860, the number of inhabitants swelled 97,000 to nearly half a million. Negro slavery prevailed, more than one-forth of the population in 1860 being held as slaves.

The sympathies of the voters were with the South, and in January, 1861, it was decided by a popular vote of 27,412, against 15,826, to call a convention to consider the question of secession. This body met in March, but postponed action until August, when the question was to have been submitted to the people. But events moved rapidly; the shot fired at Sumter called out the president's proclamation, and on May 6 the convention reassembled, withdrew the order for the submission of the question to the people, and passed the ordinance of secession by a vote of 69 to 1.

The State authorities had already seized the arsenals at Little Rock and was fought between the Confederate forces under Gen. Van Dorn and the Union troops commanded by Gen. Curtis.

The victory remained with Curtis, who marched to the Mississippi and occupied Helena. In December following, the Federals, under Gen. Blunt, defeated Gen. Hindman at Prairie Grove with considerable loss, and on Jan.11, 1863, Admiral Porter and Gen. McClernand captured Arkansas Post. In the summer of 1863 success rested with the Federal troops, Little Rock being captured by Gen. Steele, while the Confederate general, Holmes, who had attempted to recapture Helena, was driven into Texas, and all the south and west of the State was occupied by the Union armies.

After Banks' reverse in Louisiana, in the spring of 1864, the Confederates recovered possession of the southern counties, but not without a series of conflicts with Gen. Steele, who had moved south for the purpose of co-operating with Banks, and who fell back to Little Rock on learning of the latter's failure on the Red river.

The State formed part of the fourth military district in 1867-68, but in the latter year a new constitution was adopted, the ordinance of secession repealed, the Confederate State debt declared null and void, and the fourteenth amendment ratified. On June 22 Arkansas was readmitted to representation in Congress, the resolution being passed over the veto of President Johnson, and in March, 1869, the fifteenth amendment was ratified.

Population: Census of 1880: Males, 416,279; Females, 386,246; Native, 792,175; Foreign, l0,350; White, 591,531; Colored, 210,994, including 133 Chinese and 195 Indians and Half-breeds.

After very many years in the Trade, I am now retired and the Postaprint Website as such is no longer available.
However this large collection of Reference Pages is being left on line, as we hope you will find them to informative and helpful. They provide details of many of the maps, books and engravings we had the pleasure of dealing in over so many years.
For a complete index of all such Reference Pages PLEASE DO CLICK HERE.
However, my wife has a store on eBay, with many offers of delightful antiquarian maps & prints & engravings.

Specialist mail order suppliers of collectible historical antique maps and engravings.