Lot 82: TANNER, HENRY SCHENCK

TANNER, HENRY SCHENCK A New American Atlas containing Maps of the United States of the North American Union. Philadelphia: Published by H.S. Tanner, 1823 Folio (24 x 16 1/2 in.; 610 x 420 mm). Half-title, engraved vignette title showing the first landing of Columbus in the New World, index, "Geographical Memoir," 22 engraved hand-colored double-page maps (the two maps of South America joined, and four maps of North America joined, reducing the overall count in the index by 4); some marginal soiling and staining and short fold-tears, some light offset within maps, long fold-tear in joined map of South America with other fold-tears mended with linen, joined map of North America mended at folds with linen with some show through from adhesive, marginal dampstains in title. Contemporary red straight-grain morocco, roll-tooled frames in gilt and in blind on both covers, spine gilt; upper cover detached, portions of backstrip gone.

Howes T29; Phillips 1374; Sabin 94319; S.I. Schwartz & R.E. Ehrenberg, Mapping of America (1980), p. 251

First edition, "a landmark in American cartography ... the first comprehensive analytical compilation of existing cartographic and geographic data for the United States as a whole" (Schwartz-Ehrenberg).

Tanner's atlas included maps of uniform size and scale depicting individual states or state groups, based on the latest available state and Federal maps. The "Geographical Memoir" preceding the maps contains the sources on which the maps were based with criticisms.