Antique Maps and Prints of Historic North Carolina.
This short
REFERENCE PAGE is designed to provide no more than a 'glimpse' of
the history of the State,
with a couple of examples of antiquarian maps and engravings and some interesting Links.
This Page is provided as a REFERENCE
RESOURCE - it is NOT an Inventory.
Genuine original antiquarian maps and
authentic historical engravings, printed at the dates stated.
We do NOT deal in modern reproductions.
We supply genuine
historical maps and prints by mail order - all are eminently suitable for framing and
are offered On Approval, which
GUARANTEES
YOUR ENTIRE SATISFACTION!
Look us over, but don't
overlook us !
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Part of North Carolina became the State of Franklin in 1784.
The article below was written in 1885 and makes interesting reading.
Topography: North Carolina is about 450 miles in length east and west, and has an extreme breadth of 185 miles, and an area of 52,250 square miles, or 33,440,000 acres.
The west is mountainous, the centre hilly, and the coast lands low and swampy. That part of the Allegheny range which separates this State from Tennessee has a number of local names. The several ridges enclose an extensive plateau, having a general elevation of about 3,500 feet.
The Black mountains in the northwest contain Clingman's Peak, 6,940 feet, and Mount Mitchell, 6,732 feet. In the Blue Ridge are Sugar mountain, 5,312 feet, and Grandfather mountain, 5,900 feet.
The coast line extends over 400 miles. The coast proper is deeply indented, and contains spacious harbors at Wilmington, Beaufort, Edenton and New Berne.
Much of the land is sandy, but more of it is fertile and abounds in valuable timber. The Great Dismal Swamp extends north from Albemarle Sound into Virginia, and covers an area of about 150,000 acres.
The chief river is the Cape Fear. The Roanoke and Chowan rise in Virginia, and empty into Albemarle Sound. The Tar and Neuse have their sources in the north, and flow into Pamlico Sound. The Yadkin and Catawba become, in South Carolina, the Great Pee Dee and the Santee.
Climate: The climate of the State is varied. In the low country it is warm and moist; on the mountains, cool and dry.
The mean annual temperature at Asheville is 55º; that of spring, 53º; summer, 72º; autumn, 54º; winter, 38º Fahrenheit. Frosts are light, and seldom occur before November, while wheat is harvested in June, and corn in the early part of September.
The annual rainfall averages about forty-six inches.
History: In the year 1584 Sir Walter Raleigh discovered what is known as North Carolina, and explored the coast for some distance. In honor of Queen Elizabeth he named the country Virginia.
The first permanent settlements were made by Virginians in the north. The two Carolinas were separated in 1729, prior to which time what is now North Carolina was known as Albemarle. In 1712 North and South Carolina united to put down the Tuscaroras, and in 1713 this dangerous and powerful tribe emigrated to the northwest.
North Carolina claims to have taken the initiative in renouncing allegiance to the English crown, and it is said that the declaration of independence made at Mecklenburgh, May, 1775, was the first attempt to renounce the authority of Great Britain. In May, 1875, the North Carolinians celebrated the centenary of this event.
In December, 1776, a State constitution was adopted and a governor elected. It was not until 1780 that active military operations began within the State. On October 7 a detachment of Cornwallis' army was defeated with great loss at King's Mountain. On March 15, 1781, the important battle of Guilford Court House was fought. North Carolina ratified the constitution of the United States in November, 1789.
An ordinance of secession was adopted in convention on May 21, 1861, and the Confederate constitution ratified. The forts which commanded Wilmington and Beaufort, the United States arsenal at Fayetteville, and the mint at Charlotte, were seized by State troops during the last days of April.
In August following, Forts Hatteras and Clark, which commanded the entrance to Pamlico Sound, were captured by the Federal forces, who also in February, 1862, occupied Roanoke Island, capturing forty guns and over 2,000 prisoners.
Within the next few months nearly all the coast towns, excepting Wilmington, fell into the hands of the Union troops. In April, 1864, the Confederates recaptured Plymouth, but in October it was again taken by the United States soldiers.
In December, 1864, Fort Fisher was bombarded by Admiral Porter, but the attack failed. Another attempt in January, 1865, proved successful, and Wilmington, Kingston, Goldsboro, Raleigh and other important points were occupied in rapid succession. With the surrender of Gen. Johnston's army, April 26, hostilities ceased.
The work of reconstruction was completed in 1868, by the admission of the congressional delegation. All the amendments to the Federal constitution were adopted by March, 1869.
Population: Census of 1880: Males, 687,908; Females, 711,842; Native, 1,396,008; Foreign, 3,742; White, 867,242; Colored, 532,508, including 1 Japanese, and 1,230 Indians and Half-breeds.
VIEW OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
By Bryant. Published in Picturesque America - in 1872/4.
ANTIQUARIAN MAP OF NORTH CAROLINA
Published by Encyclopaedia Britannica - 1903
INTERESTING LINKS
OTHER POSTAPRINT US STATES FEATURE PAGES
North Carolina Agriculture History
North Carolina Festivals, Fairs and Feasts
Facts about North Carolina's Heartland
Contributions and suggestions for additional links would be most welcome.
Before I retired,
Postaprint supplied picture framers and antiquarian map & print dealers
for over 25 years. The inventory
encompassed examples of the
cartographer's art from the 16th to the 19th century, along with
topographical engravings, lithographs and etchings by
leading artists of their generation. You can Search
my wife's eBay Store Database for historic maps,
views, and engravings on virtually every subject,
including Vanity Fair (Spy) Cartoons. All our offers are genuine
old and historical items on a wide range of subjects.
All are
suitable for framing by Art Galleries, Shops and Fine Art Retailers.
Do visit my wife's eBay Store
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Specialist mail order suppliers of collectible historical antique maps and engravings.