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Description

One of the Earliest Obtainable Separate Maps of Omaha, Nebraska

Rare separately issued promotional map of Omaha, Nebraska, which was used by the McCague Brothers, Bankers & Investment Bankers.

One of the earliest obtainable printed maps of Omaha.

The map was issued during Omaha's modern boom. From 1880 to 1892, the McCague Brothers operated The McCague Bank and other enterprises in Omaha, before the failure of the Bank in 1892. The History of Omaha (Alfred Sorenson, 1889) notes:

The oldest private bank in Omaha is that of the McCague Brothers. In 1880, Mr. John L. McCague, who had grown up in Omaha from boyhood, foresaw the rapid growth of the city, and determined to embark in the real estate business in which very few men were engaged at the time. Resigning a responsible position in the service of the Union Pacific, by whom he had been employed for a number of years, he opened a real estate office and in a very short time met with gratifying success. In order to keep pace with the demands of his growing business he called to his assistance his brother, William L. McCague, who became a partner in the enterprise. The reorganization of the firm of Caldwell, Hamilton & Co., as the United States National Bank, made a good opening for a private bank. The McCague brothers decided to take advantage of the opportunity, and accordingly, in the fall of 1883, opened an office at No. 107 South Fifteenth street. . .

While apparently printed for Wolfe's rare City Directory (OCLC locates 4 examples between 1879 and 1888), no recorded example notes the presence of the map. The present example is over-printed as a promotional map for the City of Omaha and the McCague Brothers, including a marvelous description of Omaha's benefits at the bottom of the map and explanation of its commercial benefits and the services of the McCague Brothers in the side margins. Moreover, it seems that this promotional edition was issued in the first year (1887) of publication of the map, based upon an exhibition at the Omaha Public Library.

Rarity

The map is quite rare, this being the second example we have seen in over 20 years.

We were only able to locate the Omaha Public Library Copy (with the McCague Brothers advertisement). OCLC locates 3 examples (1887, 1888 and 1892 editions) and a smaller map by George Smith with the same title (1886).