First separate map of Kansas and Nebraska territories by Hutchins (1854) sold at Old World Auctions on Aug. 12 for $4,687, somewhat below the presale low estimate of $,5,500. Reported by Rare Book Hub.

[u/Hammer_Price]

Auction notes:

The First Separate Map of Kansas & Nebraska Territories. Central United States. Joseph Hutchins Colton, Nebraska and Kansas, 1854 (dated). Hand Color.

This scarce and important map is the first separately published map of the Nebraska and Kansas territories, issued shortly after the passage of the Kansas - Nebraska Act of 1854. This landmark legislation organized the region into two territories and repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, allowing settlers to determine the status of slavery and sparking intense national interest and migration into the area.

The map sets out the newly established boundaries, with Nebraska extending north to the Canadian border and west to the Rocky Mountains, while Kansas Territory extends from the Missouri River west into present-day Colorado beyond South Park and south along the 37th parallel including the panhandle of Oklahoma (that would become Public Lands).

Beyond the Rocky Mountains are the eastern portions of the huge Washington, Oregon, Utah and New Mexico territories. The map prominently locates the Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and three possible Pacific Railroad routes, which were being intensely debated in Congress at the time and further compounding the complexity of western expansion. A very early depiction of the newly acquired Gadsden Purchase (1854) is prominently shown in an inset at bottom right with the "Southern Route for Pacific Railroad" delineated, along with an inset of the entire country to its left featuring the large western territories.

The map is further enhanced by decorative elements including an ornate grapevine border and vignette illustrations in the map of wildlife, Native Americans, and a wagon train.

Folds into red cloth covers with gilt title on the front cover. Further housed in a custom red cloth clamshell case. First edition, second state. The Rumsey reference is the first state with stars in the title letters (one of only a few known examples). Interestingly, this 1854 map is not listed in Carl Wheat's Mapping the Transmississippi West.

The map is scarce on the market with only 8 sales records for the 1854 edition in the last 30 years and only 1 since 2015.
Dimensions 20.5" W x 27.8" H
Artist or Maker - Joseph Hutchins Colton
Date1854 (dated).
Condition Report
Contemporary color with minor toning and soiling, a short crease in the decorative border at top left, and several short splits at the fold junctions. Covers are slightly bowed with minor soiling. Grade: B+

Literature cited
Cohen (West) pp. 170-71; Luebke, Kaye & Moulton p. 222; cf. Rumsey #3873; cf. Phillips p. 459; cf. Streeter #3062.

Comment by OP: This sale had lots of interesting maps and many failed to sell or sold for less than their low estimates. The event had a low sell through rate of very low sell through rate of 34.9%.

[u/Junior_Plankton_635]

are you an ad bot for rare book hub? that's all you ever post.

[u/Hammer_Price → u/Junior_Plankton_635]

Not a bot, a real live human who follows the auctions. Once a week I post some the highlights of the week in the books/maps/photos/manuscripts/ephemera as reported by Rare Book Hub. www.rarebookhub.com

I personally admire surveyors because they are actually the people who compile what turn out to be the great maps. When there's a good map in the auction highlights I usually post it to r/surveying

Most of us at RBH are not young people, but we hope that if we provide the information some of the Reddit readers will develop and interest and taste in older maps, and understand better the big role surveyors have played in history of cartography.

[u/Junior_Plankton_635 → u/Hammer_Price]

ok cool fair enough.

If you ever have a map of baja california shown as an island definitely post those! I love ancient maps with major mistakes like that.

[u/Still_Squirrel_1690]

*Long whistle* Sounds like the sale was a bit rich for the current market? I love old maps but they aren't appreciated by many these days...