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This rare and detailed map of Pennsylvania, published in The Columbian Magazine in 1788, captures the geographic, cultural, and infrastructural character of the state shortly after the American Revolution. At a time when settlers and surveyors were expanding westward, this map provides a comprehensive view of Pennsylvania’s improved lands and extensive frontiers, stretching from the established areas in the southeast to the rugged, less developed northern and western territories bordering New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Philadelphia serves as the prime meridian, with the map using the city as a focal point from which all longitudes are measured, underscoring its importance as the state’s economic and political hub. The map includes a detailed representation of Pennsylvania’s counties—Northumberland, Lancaster, Chester, and others—each delineated with rivers and mountain ranges that marked natural boundaries and shaped early settlement patterns. The Allegheny River and Lake Erie define the northwestern edge, with the map highlighting the challenges and possibilities of the frontier.

A decorative cartouche displays the map’s dedicatory title. The map also features a key that decodes various symbols. Symbols mark “Meeting Houses,” “Wigwams,” “Mills,” “Forges,” “Towns,” “Villages,” “Roads,” “Paths,” and even “Coal or Stages,” offering a snapshot of the infrastructure and settlements across Pennsylvania. The presence of wigwams speaks to Native American communities still residing in parts of the state, while mills and forges reveal early industrial activities that were starting to reshape the landscape.

The map’s inclusion of key landmarks near Pittsburg, such as Braddock’s Field, Bouquet’s Field, and the Depreciation Lands, provides a fascinating glimpse into the historical and cultural landscape of western Pennsylvania in the late 18th century. Pittsburg, prominently located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, was a vital frontier town and a gateway to the western territories. Braddock’s Field, a site east of Pittsburg, marks the location of General Edward Braddock’s disastrous defeat during the French and Indian War in 1755, a pivotal moment in colonial history. Nearby, Bouquet’s Field commemorates Colonel Henry Bouquet’s victory at the Battle of Bushy Run in 1763, where he successfully defended frontier settlements against Native American attacks during Pontiac’s Rebellion. The map’s reference to the Depreciation Lands is particularly notable, as these lands were allocated by the Pennsylvania government to Revolutionary War soldiers as compensation for their devalued pay, reflecting the economic challenges and territorial expansion of the post-Revolutionary period. Together, these locations illustrate Pennsylvania’s role as a battleground of imperial conflict and a land of new opportunities for settlers and soldiers shaping the young United States.

The inclusion of this map in Philadelphia-published Columbian Magazine reflects a period in American history when magazines served as important vehicles for disseminating information to the public. Readers would have found this map valuable for understanding the developing landscape of Pennsylvania, a state crucial to the new nation’s growth.

This 1788 map of Pennsylvania stands out not only for its rarity—early American magazine maps are uncommon—but also for the rich detail it provides about life in Pennsylvania at this formative time. By blending artistic flourish with practical information, it serves as a window into a young America, capturing both the ambition of the new nation and the complexity of its evolving landscape. This map is a valuable piece of Americana, offering insight into early cartography and the spirit of exploration and settlement that defined post-Revolutionary America.

Rarity

According to OldMaps.com, the map last appeared for sale in the 2007 Jay T. Snider Sale, where it made $7,200.