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Stock# 92389
Description

A Gift of The Founder of Santa Monica -- Senator John Percival Jones

Rare composite atlas of charts published by the United States Coast Survey, compiled in about 1881.

The present volume includes a note that that it was likely given by Senator Jno. P. Jones of Nevada to J. Barr Robertson. J. Barr Robertson  was the director of California Land Investment Company, a London based real estate firm which speculated in California real estate.  He was also a director of the South Pacific Coast Railroad. 

Jno. P. Jones is John Percival Jones (1829-1912), an American politician who served for 30 years as a Republican United States Senator from Nevada (1873-1903). He made a fortune in silver mining and was a co-founder of the town of Santa Monica, California.  The signature on on the note in the book matches Jones' signature.   

Jones visited Los Angeles in 1874 and bought 75% of Colonel Robert S. Baker’s ranch in Santa Monica. In 1875, Jones and Baker laid out the town of Santa Monica. Jones built the first railroad (Los Angeles and Independence Railroad) from Los Angeles to Santa Monica.   

Charts included in the atlas include:

  • Approaches to the Columbia River. 1878. 110 x 48 cm (a few small brown spots)
  • Entrance to San Francisco Bay. 1859, Edition of 1877, Aids to Navigation corrected to Oct 1881. 60 x 97.5 cm
  • San Francisco Peninsula. 1869. 71.5 x4 4 cm
  • Upper Part of San Francisco Bay California. 1862.69 x 89 cm
  • Alaska and Adjoining Territory. 1869. Color. 61 x 85 cm
  • Puget Sound. 1867 aids to navigation corrected to 1880. 71.5x4 4 cm
  • Potomac River... Sheet No. 4, From Indian Head to Georgetown...1862 aids to navigation to 1881.  97.5 x 58 cm
  • Boston Harbor Massachusetts. 1867, Edition of 1878, Aids to navigation corrected to 1881. 72.5 x 90.5 cm
  • Bay and Harbor of New York. 1874. On two sheets, each approx.61.5 x 97.5 cm plus margins
  • Mississippi River from the Passes to Grand Prairie Louisiana. 1874... corrected to Nov 1881. 102 x 82.5 cm (short split at fold intersection)
  • Charleston Harbor and Approaches, 1870, issued 1878... corrected to 1881.  78.5 x 80 cm (short split at fold intersection)
  •  Mt. Desert Island Maine. 1875. 44.5 x 37 cm
  • General Chart of Delaware and Cheasapeake Bays and the Seacoast from Cape May to Cape Henry. 1855... corrected to 1880. 77.5 x 65.5 cm
  • Hampton Roads and Elizabeth River Virginia. 1864... corrected to 1881. 55.5 x 39 cm
  • Washington Sound and Approaches Washington Territory. 1866, issued Aug 1881. 67.5 x6 4.5 cm

Rarity

The vast majority of the sea charts in this collection are scarce on the market as individual sheets.

This is the first time we have seen a compilation of this kind.

Provenance:  Warren Heckrotte Sale (PBA, May 19 2016, Lot 253), purchased from Maggs Brothers, September 1972.

Condition Description
Original quarter leather binding with leather title