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Massive Early (and Highly Inaccurate) Idaho Territory -- Colored To Show The Slave & Confederate States and Territories
First state of this fine 4-sheet map of North America, published in London by Edward Stanford.
The map provides a fine overview of the United States in the midst of the Civil War, with Confederate States in grey and Union States in green (and territories in yellow).
The most remarkable feature of the map is the massive Idaho Territory, which covers all of Wyoming and a portion of southwestern Montana. Dated July 1, 1863, the configuration is both unique and inaccurate, as the first short lived configuration of Idaho Territory, from March 1863 to the creation of Montana Territory in May 1864, would have covered the area to the north of the present configuration all the way to the Canadian border and would have included a significant portion of the eastern part of what is here shown as Washington Territory.
A fascinating and uniquely inaccurate Territorial depiction of Idaho Territory.
States of the Map and Rarity
The map was issued in a number of variant states between 1863 and 1881, of which this appears to be the first.
We note later states in at least 1864, 1868, 1872, 1875, 1877, 1881, 1891, 1912, 1915. 1920, 1927, and 1945.
The early states of the map are quite rare on the market.
Edward Stanford (1827-1904) was a prominent British mapmaker and publisher. A native of Holborn in the heart of London, Edward was apprenticed to a printer and stationer at the age of 14. After his first master died, he worked with several others, including Trelawny W. Saunders of Charing Cross. Saunders oversaw young Edward’s early career, ensuring that he became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Associations with the Society eventually brought Sanders much business and gave him a reputation as a publisher of explorers. As testament to this reputation, the Stanford Range in British Columbia was named for him by John Palliser.
Stanford briefly partnered with Saunders in 1852 before striking out on his own in 1853. He was an agent for the Ordnance Survey, the Admiralty, the Geological Survey, the Trigonometrical Survey of India, and the India Office. He also controlled the maps of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, another lucrative source of income. In 1857, Stanford founded his namesake Geographical Establishment, with Saunders and A. K. Johnston as engravers. Thereafter, Stanford was known for his “library maps”, particularly those of Africa and Asia.
Addresses and Years of Operation:
- 6 Charing Cross, London (1848): Edward Stanford's initial place of employment at Trelawney Saunders' shop.
- 7 and 8 Charing Cross, London (1853): Stanford expanded his shop to these addresses.
- 55 Charing Cross, London (1873): The shop moved to this larger location.
- 12-14 Long Acre, London (1873): Site of the new print works and current flagship store.
- 7 Mercer Walk, London (2019): Stanfords moved to this address, continuing its legacy.
Stanford's work with Chief Cartographer John Bolton, including the 1858 Library Map of Europe, positioned the company as a leader in quality cartography during a time of exploration and colonialism. Their 1862 Library Map of London earned acclaim from the Royal Geographical Society. With the business thriving, Stanford purchased Staunton & Son in 1877 and, upon retiring in 1885, handed over the reins to his son, Edward Stanford II.
As sole agents for Ordnance Survey Maps, the company's influence and reputation grew, culminating in the Stanford’s London Atlas Of Universal Geography, which was presented to Queen Victoria in 1887. The transition into the 20th century saw further integration of retail, print, and cartographic operations at Long Acre.
During World War I, Stanford's became an essential publisher for the War Office. Edward Fraser Stanford took over in 1917, steering the company through the interwar period and innovations, such as the world’s smallest maps in 1922 and the Daily Mail Motor Road Map in 1926.
Withstanding a bombing in WWII, the company continued under the stewardship of John Keith Stanford and was sold to George Philip & Son in 1947. As it adapted to the digital age, Stanfords received the Ordnance Survey Premier Partner status in 2007 and ventured into online mapping and data services.
Stanfords, now an icon for travellers and explorers, has maintained its cultural relevance and retail success well into the 21st century, underpinned by a legacy of entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to cartographic excellence.
![A New and Correct Map of North America with the West India Islands, Divided According to the Last Treaty of Peace ... 20th of Jan. 1783 ... Particularly Distinguished the Thirteen Provinces which Compose the United States . . . [With annotations describing Cumberland, Tennessee, Kentucky etc.]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/41651.jpg)
