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Alvin Jewett Johnson (1827 - 1884) was an American map publisher. Born in Wallingford, Vermont, he received only a basic public education, but he still served as a school teacher for several years before moving to Richmond, Virginia and, in 1857, New York City. Johnson also worked as a book canvasser for the map publisher J.H. Colton.

Johnson's name first appears on maps published with Samuel N. Gaston and D. Griffing Johnson (no clear relation) in the mid-1850s, and his name (along with Ross Browning) appeared on Colton's atlas maps of 1859 and 1860. Although map historian Water Ristow speculates that Colton sold his copyrights to Johnson and his business partner, fellow Vermonter Browning, a more likely theory is that Johnson and Browning financially bailed out the Colton firm in exchange for the right to use Colton’s existing copyrighted map plates. The first Johnson maps were mostly reissues of earlier Colton maps. Indeed, Johnson's earliest works described his firm as the “Successors to J. H. Colton and Company”. Johnson converted the original Colton steel plate engravings to lithographic stones, allowing his firm to produce more maps at a lower price point. 

In 1860, the Johnson firm published its first significant work, the Johnson’s New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas. The first edition of the Atlas bears imprints in both New York and Richmond, VA. In 1861, however, following the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Johnson & Browning firm abandoned their Richmond location. Browning seems to have remained in Virginia to pursue other ventures and, in 1861, Browning’s portion of the firm was purchased by Benjamin P. Ward. The 1863 issue of the Atlas was one of the most unusual, it being a compilation of older Johnson and Browning maps, updated 1862 Johnson and Ward maps, and newer 1863 maps with a revised border design.

The 1864 issue of the Atlas is the first true Johnson and Ward atlas. Johnson published one more edition in partnership with Ward in 1865, after which Johnson becomes the sole publisher. The next issue of the Atlas, 1866, is the first purely Johnson atlas with all new map plates, updated imprints, and copyrights. Johnson maps include a unique border style, which changed over the years, but was not copied by other makers. These include a “strapwork border” from 1860 to 1863, a “fretwork border” from 1863 to 1869 and a “spirograph border” in 1870. 

In addition to the Family Atlas, Johnson issued numerous wall maps, pocket maps, and, in the 1880s, the Cyclopedia. Johnson frequently updated his western atlas maps and on occasion, more than one update appeared in a single year. Johnson continued to publish the Family Atlas until 1887. In 1879, Johnson brought his son into the business, and their publications have the imprint “A.J. Johnson and Son” and, later, “A.J. Johnson and Co.” Johnson’s son continued the business until it shuttered in 1887.

Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
94109
Place/Date:
New York / 1870 circa
Size:
17 x 21.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
90972
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
16 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
79135
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
15.5 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
80578
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
26 x 16 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
88560
Place/Date:
New York / 1864
Size:
24.5 x 16.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
90650
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
16 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
82434
Place/Date:
New York / 1868
Size:
23 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97219
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
17 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
101082
Place/Date:
New-York / 1869
Size:
17 x 22.5 inches inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
88883
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
80093
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
25 x 16.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
100046
Place/Date:
New York / 1867
Size:
23 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
74977
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24.5 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
83570
Place/Date:
New York City / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
84322
Place/Date:
New-York / 1862
Size:
26.5 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
87234
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
17 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98336
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 16 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
78184
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
15 x 12 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
78728
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
17 x 24.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
80247
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
16 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
80462
Place/Date:
New York / 1867
Size:
23 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
84881
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
88976
Place/Date:
New-York / 1869
Size:
22 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
90131
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
91479
Place/Date:
New York / 1864
Size:
23.5 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97961
Place/Date:
New York City / 1862
Size:
17 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
98332
Place/Date:
New York / 1864
Size:
17 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
103033
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
12.5 x 15.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
79351
Place/Date:
New York / 1863
Size:
16 x 22 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
55877
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
16 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
71512
Place/Date:
New York / 1869
Size:
17 x 23 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
75756
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
15.5 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
76244
Place/Date:
New York / 1869
Size:
23 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
80279
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
81394
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
13 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
81477
Place/Date:
New York / 1863
Size:
16 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
86643

Archived

Place/Date:
/ 1866
Size:
Condition:
Stock#:
m0001e
Place/Date:
New York / 1865
Size:
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
m2008
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
61164
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
94910
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
72363
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
60165
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
61166
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
69962
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
72394
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
72393
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
76364
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
78089
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
80652
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
80713
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
82497
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
94108
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
4558p
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
50870
Place/Date:
New York / 1863
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
54433
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
56471
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
61165
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
63165
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65047
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
5458
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
20664
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
55779
Place/Date:
New York / 1869
Size:
17 x 23 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
80186
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
59902
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
14270
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
2545
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
2548
Place/Date:
New York / 1860
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
4559p
Place/Date:
New York / 1861
Size:
24 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
7639
Place/Date:
New York / 1862
Size:
24.75 x 17 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17520