This is the most desirable edition of William Bradford’s ‘Comprehensive Atlas’. This is the first to include a map of the Mexican province of Texas which at the time was “engaged in an arduous struggle for independence”. Although the atlas covers the whole world, Bradford concentrates largely on the Americas. Unlike many contemporary atlases it includes extensive descriptions. Each map is accompanied by explanatory text on the history, economics and geography of the area, as well as much statistical information. The first edition of this atlas issued earlier in 1835 did not include a map of Texas. It was this second published by Ticknor, Wiley and Long which was to include for the first time in an atlas a map of Texas. Indeed those of both Burr and Tanner published the following year in 1836 did not include a map of Texas.

Bradford (1802-87) was an assistant editor of the American Encyclopaedia before publishing atlases. This, his first atlas, contained a series of unsigned maps; they were probably engraved by G.W. Boynton of Boston, who was to engrave those for Bradford’s ‘Illustrated Atlas’ of 1838. This first state of the map identifies the land grants rather than the counties. Other notable features include “Mustang Wild Horse Desert” in south Texas and the south western boundary depicted at the Nueces River. Austin is of course also omitted from this state as it was not founded until 1839. The map is inserted with the pagination 64A displayed in the left margin. Interestingly in this atlas the maps are included in the pagination of the text leaves.

The map is derived from the only authoritative map available at the time; that of Stephen F. Austin’s landmark separately published map of Texas first issued in 1830. There are however notable differences not the least of which is the focus on identified the numerous colonising grants and the rapidly increasing number of settlements and towns. Unlike the Austin map it also illustrates the disputed border with Arkansas along the Red River, one which was not settled until Texas achieved Statehood in 1845.

In this first issue the accompanying text extends to two pages and in itself is an interesting document. It begins “Texas. It is a northeastern province of the republic of Mexico, and is at present engaged in an arduous struggle for independence”. Following this is an in depth description of the geography, resources, climate, colonisation and history within the Mexican Republic and an outline of the events leading to the Texan Revolution. Various quotes are cited from both parties including the proclamation of General Cos made at Matamoros on 5 July 1835. They warn the Texan colonists that war would be the result of “their badly conceived zeal”. The reply in Franklin C. Gray’s ‘Texas Republican’. An uncommon and significant atlas. Martin & Martin 31; cf Phillips Atlases 770; Phillips America, p. 841; Ristow p. 271; Rumsey 3467; 2643; Sabin 7260; Streeter 827.