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Description

The Map of Kansas Territory and Landmark Map of Kansas and Nebraska Territories.

Rare and important map of the newly created territories of Kansas and Nebraska, one of the first to show these newly created Territories.

The map incudes a panel of text in upper right, which, together with the map, show the lands ceded by the various tribes to the US, and thus open for settlement. Remarkably, while Seth Eastman contributes 2 important maps to Henry Schoolcraft's History of the American Indian Tribes in 1853 which are referenced in Wheat's Mapping of the Transmississippi West, this map is of sufficient rarity that it was missed entirely by Wheat.

John Garver, in an essay in Mapping the North American Plains, states:

If not the first, it was one of the earliest maps of the newly created territories which visually displayed the vast areas in their eastern portions formerly reserved for Indian homeland that were now 'open' to white settlement."

In his description of the map, Heaston notes:

The map extends west to the Rocky Mountains and depicts such major points in present-day Colorado as Pike's Peak, Bent's Fort, and Pueblo. Nebraska Territory extends into present-day Wyoming. Besides the major military forts, only the cities of Atchison and Council Grove are located. One of the most important virtues of this map for settlers and speculators was the inclusion of such printed notes from the Indian treaties of 1854 as this:

The Piankashaws, Weas, Peorias and Kaskaskias cede all their country to the U.S., excepting 160 acres to each individual, amounting to 41,440 acres. Also, ten sections to be held as common property, and one section to the American Indian Mission Association. No citizen allowed to settle on their lands until they have made their selections.

Eastman locates the emigrant tribes and the roving bands of Arapahoes, Cheyerines, Kiowas, and Comanches. (The locations and sizes of the Indian reservations were approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs as accurate). This magnificent cartographical production is one of the most important territorial maps of Kansas and Nebraska, exhibiting in detail the country, the geographical features, the trails, and other features mentioned above.

The label on the front cover reads: " Eastman's Map of Nebraska and Kanzas Territory, Showing the Location of The Indian Reserves, According to the Treaties of 1854. Compiled by S. Eastman, Captain U.S. Army. From Actual Surveys. Published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co No. 20 North Fourth Street, Philadelphia. Copyright Secured."

The map is very rare on the market. The only other example which has appeared on the market was Siebert Copy (1999), which was acquired from Edward Eberstadt Catalog 137 (1955), which Eberstadt described as:

Phillips 1. This is the earliest map recorded by the bibliographer. It is a rare and magnificent cartographical production, exhibiting the country in detail, its geographical features, the trails, forts, etc. Also a complete projection of the various Indian tribes, their location, extent and boundaries, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Sioux, Kiowa, Comanche, Osage, Sac and Fox, Kansas, Miami. Delaware, Kickapoo, Piankashaws, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Quapaw, Seneca, Shawnee, Iowa, Missouria, Omaha, Otoe, and the Pottawatomie tribes.

Provenance: Warren Heckrotte Collection: Pacific Book Auctions, December 2015. Withdrawn stamp of Yale, dated 1964. Signature in old ink on verso: R White.

Condition Description
Folding map with original covers (now detached from covers for presentation purposes). Minor fold discoloration and some minor foxing.
Reference
Heaston, The Kansas Pocket Map, the Cartographer's Orphan.
The Yale University Library Gazette, Vol. 54, No. 4 (April 1980), pp. 168-182