First edition of Bradford’s large format atlas with the FIRST STATE OF THE TEXAS MAP in the preferred full early wash colour. This work appears in two sizes, the small format being about 430 mm. in height, the larger, as offered here, about 495 mm. and including larger margins. The notable feature of this work is that unlike the majority of North American atlases this was printed on fine quality paper. Following on from the success of the quarto sized ‘Comprehensive Atlas’ of 1835 Thomas Gamaliel Bradford issued the folio’Illustrated Atlas’ in 1838. Bradford (1802-87) was an assistant editor of the ‘American Encyclopaedia’ before publishing atlases. ‘A much more elaborate atlas in an enlarged format (from his atlas of 1835). The title page is beautifully ornate and hand coloured. It was engraved by James Archer [of Boston] who was also responsible for the plates to Hinton’s ‘History and Topography of the United States’, 1834.’ (Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers). ‘Bradford’s atlas was one of the first American general atlases to supplement the maps with lengthy geographical descriptions’ (Ristow). Rumsey describes it as ‘Bradford’s best atlas’.

Some authorities cite 40 maps as being present but in reality it contains 39. The contents leaf is numbered to 40 but 4 & 5 relate to the double page map of the United States. Other than that of Texas there is a fine map of the United States extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific and highlighting the emptiness of the west. Both Houston and Galveston are labeled in Texas, but not Austin which had not yet been founded. Texas is not shown as an independent Republic in the North American and U.S. maps, but it is named. There are also maps of each of the states. These are supplemented by four full-page city plans of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

The maps were engraved by G.W. Boynton of Boston with the exception of Mississippi which is engraved by S. Stiles, Sherman and Smith. That of Delaware is the work of Fielding Lucas, but he was not its engraver. Each map is accompanied by explanatory text on the history, economics and geography of the area, as well as much statistical information. ‘Aside from showing Texas as a separate state, the maps and text Bradford inserted into his atlases are historically important for clearly demonstrating the demand in the United States for information about Texas during the Revolution and the early years of the Republic.’ (Martin & Martin p.125).

Bradford was the first publisher of an atlas to include a separate map of Texas. His first was in the ‘Comprehensive Atlas’ of 1835. This is the first issue of the larger map of 1838 in the preferred full early wash colour, printed on fine heavy paper. It is clearly derived from Stephen Fuller Austin’s iconic map of Texas published in Philadelphia in 1830. The Southwestern border is shown as being the Nueces River. It does not show the city of Austin which was founded the following year 1839. The map only depicts 13 empresario grants and 2 colonies (De Witt’s and Austin’s). A good clean example of an important atlas. Provenance: private collection for 35 years. Day 32 & 33; Le Gear L31; cf Martin & Martin p. 125; Phillips Atlases 1381 & 11028; Ristow pp. 270-1; Sabin 7261.