c 1857 CONNECTICUT RHODE ISLAND and LONG ISLAND Morse & Gaston

$60.00

(Image: 6 x 5 ¾”) “CONNECTICUT RHODE ISLAND AND LONG ISLAND” New York: Charles W. Morse and Samuel N. Gaston, 1857.  Original wax-engraved map, with original hand color from The Diamond Atlas.

 

This map depicts Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island, with the counties named and in contrasting colors. Topographical features are shown, and major cities, towns, islands and railroads are located. The length of Long Island is provided along with the note "Belongs to New York".  It is very detailed for its miniature size (40 miles per 1 ½ inches).

 

The wax-engraving method was developed by Sidney E. Morse (brother of Samuel F. B. Morse - inventor of the telegraph).  Wax engraving was “a major techno-logical breakthrough that greatly influenced American commercial map and atlas production in the U.S.” (Schwartz: Mapping of America, p. 265). This map is an early example of the process.

Shipped in archival 12 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# M-12906