Historic Map : Colton Map of Pennsylvania, 1856, Vintage Wall Art

A beautiful 1855 first edition example of Colton's map of Pennsylvania. Like most of Colton's state maps, this map was derived from an earlier wall map of North America produced by Colton and D. Griffing Johnson. The map covers the entire state of Pennsylvania as well adjacent parts of New York, Maryland, and New Jersey

This map was issued at the height of the American westward expansion. Siin x years before this map was drawn the California gold discovery of 1849 enticed thousands to embark upon the rigorous transcontinental emigration. Meanwhile, with the rise in territorial population to the west of the Mississippi, the eastern states were becoming increasingly divided over the issues of slavery and state vs. federal sovereignty. Within five years these disputes would lead to the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, considered a major turning point of the Civil War, was fought in southern Pennsylvania in 1863. On another note, shortly after this map was this map was drawn, in 1859, oil was discovered in western Pennsylvania, leading to America's first oil boom and feuling the fortunes of John Rockefeller and others.

This map also identifies various forts, rivers, mountain passes, fords, and an assortment of additional topographical details. Map is hand colored in pink, green, yellow and blue pastels to define state and territorial boundaries. Surrounded by Colton's typical spiral motif border. Dated and copyrighted to J. H. Colton, 1855. Published from Colton's 172 William Street Office in New York City. Issued as page no. 20 in volume 1 of Colton's 1856 Atlas of the World.