19th-Century Mapmaker's Tools
An elegant set of mid-19th-century drafting tools in its original velvet-lined wooden case, and accompanied by a set of 1860s watercolors, also in its original wooden case. Such a set of technical drawing instruments, in a compact case, would have been indispensable to the military map maker during the Civil War. While we have not been able to determine whether these drafting tools were made in the United States (they may have been imported from Europe), they are certainly precision-made instruments of a high caliber. Accompanying the drafting set is a nice circa 1860s set of American-made watercolors, each embossed with Indian princess bust. The letterpress label within the watercolor set states: "Scholz & Janentsky's American Water Colors / Made by G. W. Osborne, No. 112 South Eighth Street, Philadelphia."
Civil War-era Mapmaker's Tools
This mid-19th-century drafting tool set and accompanying watercolors, are of the kind that a Civil War-era mapmaker might have used. The drafting set comprises 12 precision instruments, including a brass rotating compass and a transparent dome protractor with hand-engraved numerals. Both the drafting tool set and the watercolors reflect the craftsmanship and technical skill of the period, and provide a window into the tools used in map making during the Civil War.
During the Civil War, map making played a crucial role in military strategy. Drafting tools, such as the ones included in this set, were vital for creating detailed maps that helped generals plan troop movements, assess enemy positions, and understand the terrain of battlefields. The high quality of the instruments in this set indicates their potential use by military cartographers, whose maps influenced the outcome of critical battles. The transparent dome protractor, engraved with numerals by hand, is an especially notable inclusion in this set, as it likely would have been used to create precise angles in map drawing.
The accompanying watercolor set, produced by Scholz & Janentzky and made by G. W. Osborne in Philadelphia, highlights the importance of color in cartography during this period. The watercolors, embossed with an Indian princess bust, were used to create visually striking maps that could communicate complex information through color-coding. Interestingly, Scholz & Janentzky, actively marketed their colors in photography trade journals in the 1860s, suggesting they were aggressive in seeking new markets for their products.
The craftsmanship evident in these sets, from the precision tolerances of the drafting instruments to the elegantly boxed and labeled watercolors, reflects the technological and artistic capabilities of the day. The high-quality velvet-lined wooden case indicates the importance given to preserving and protecting these tools.
These sets of drafting tools and watercolors offer insights into the practices of map makers who played a vital role in shaping the course of 19th-century technical progress whether in warfare or industry.
Rarity
It is rare to find such drafting sets and watercolors in such remarkably nice original condition.