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An uncommon and important map by the well recognized American cartographer John Melish, engraved by Samuel Harrison. Melish was the first American publisher to issue exclusively cartographic and geographic pieces. Born in Scotland, he settled in the United States in 1811. He is credited with bringing American cartography up to world standards.
The work covers The West to the Rocky Mountains and presents a detailed view of the Missouri River, substantially utilizing information accumulated from the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. At the western edge of the map is a notation indicating where ?Clark?s Canoes stop 3000 miles from the Mississippi?.
Particularly interesting is Melish?s treatment of Texas. Although at the time the map was published (1818 to1822) the Texas territory was officially a province of Mexico, and well more than a decade away from being recognized as an independent republic, it is nevertheless depicted clearly in this work as a region separate from both the United States and Mexico.
The map also identifies several Native American territories, including those of the Black Foot and Chippewa (?Chippeways?) tribes. The Arkansas territory encompasses what is today Oklahoma.
Originally issued in 1818, the map is dated under the title 1820 and contains a note, ?Improved to 1822.? Nicely enhanced by the figure of an American bald eagle carrying olive branches, arrows and a red striped shield.