Map of Public Surveys in California. US Topographical Bureau 1854 old

CAPTION PRINTED BELOW PICTURE: 'Map of Public Surveys in California'

The First US Government Survey Map of California (1854). A formative 19th-century wall map, this is the earliest in a series of annual progress maps charting the advance of U.S. Government land surveys across California. Printed by P.S. Duval & Company, it features the facsimile signature of John Coffee Hays, then U.S. Surveyor General for California. The map captures the initial implementation of the Public Land Survey System in the state, with townships arranged in six-by-six-mile grids extending from three principal meridians—Mount Diablo, Mount Pierce (Humboldt), and San Bernardino—and their respective baselines. Surveyed townships are denoted with an "S," while vast portions of the state, especially in Southern California, remain largely unsurveyed. Tulare Lake still present in the Central Valley prior to its drainage. Towns and settlements named include San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San José, Alviso, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, Marysville, Union City, San Pedro, Vallejo, Oakland, San Diego and Benicia, along with two settlements simply labeled "New Town." Los Angeles is also marked, although it was a Pueblo of no more than 2,000 people at the time. The Wool and Sebastian military reserves are also marked. The map preserves a valuable record of California during the gold rush - a period of rapid settlement and development - and shortly after its accession to the Union

DATE PRINTED: 1854    

IMAGE SIZE: Approx 53.0 x 118.5cm, 20.75 x 46.75 inches (Large); Please note that this is a folding map.

TYPE: Antique survey map

CONDITION: Good; suitable for framing. The map was published without a lower left margin, which has been restored with partial loss of the printed border. Toning along folds. Wear at junctures, restored. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Please contact us if you would like to arrange to view this map. Virtually all antiquarian maps and prints are subject to some normal aging due to use and time which is not obtrusive unless otherwise stated. We offer a no questions asked return policy.

AUTHENTICITY: This is an authentic historic print, published at the date stated above. It is not a modern copy.

VERSO: There is nothing printed on the reverse side, which is plain

FOLDING: This is a folding print.

ARTIST/CARTOGRAPHER/ENGRAVER: John C. Hays, Surveyor General of California; lith. P.S. Duval & Co.

PROVENANCE: "Message from the President of the United States to the two Houses of Congress at the commencement of the second session of the Thirty-Third Congress", December 4, 1854. Senate. 33d Congress, 2d Session. Ex. Doc. No. 1. Part III. Illustrations belonging to reports accompanying the message. Washington: A. O. P. Nicholson, Printer. 1854.