Beschreibung:

matted and framed, 12 x 15.5" (sight). Printed by Thos. T. Ash, 139 Chestnut St. Phila. Missouri is shown with modern boundaries (24th state, 1821), but Arkansas is still a territory (25th state, 1836), thus the map dates between these two. Map is dissected and linen backed (not removed from frame), possibly a pocket map. It also has 96 locations numbered with a route between each, also pointing to its status as a pocket and travel map. Number 1 is Washington, DC, the route proceeds south to Florida, along the Gulf Coast, detours into the deep South, then to Texas, jogs to Santa Fe, then back to the Midwest (TN, OH, IN, IL, etc.) thence West to beyond the Yellowstone and Missouri headwaters, north through the remains of the Northwest Territory (WI, MN), down the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence before turning back South through New England to Philadelphia and through Pennsylvania to end at Pittsburgh (Number 96). Thomas Ash appears to have been primarily a printer of periodicals. We have located a children's periodical (Boys' Week-day Book), almanacs (Gentleman's Pocket Almanac), etc. He is also credited with being the first American manufacturer of jigsaw puzzles. But Ash is best known for his reprint of Shaw's Picturesque Views of American Scenery in 1835. He acquired the original plates and his edition is nearly as collectible as the original Carey & Son 1820-21 printing. Clearly Ash was experienced in printing travel books and pocket editions, skills of both evidenced in this map, as well as the quality of his printing. Condition: Large waterstain on eastern seaboard and Atlantic; smaller spot in western mountains. Seems fine otherwise, but not removed from frame for examination.