Mitchell’s map of Texas, Oregon, and California is generally perceived to be one of the most important maps of the American West ever published. Issued during a period of seismic change in the United States, it was the single-most successful overarching piece of cartography summarizing the situation of California, Texas and Oregon as well as the formation of Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri.

Mitchell issued this map with a strong marketing campaign, announcing a collection of superb and famous sources for its geography. These include John C. Fremont for California, Charles Wilkes for Oregon, Joseph Nicollet for the region of the Upper Mississippi River, William Emory for the general southwest and particularly Texas as well as John Arrowsmith also for Texas. In addition, Mitchell also marks several of the legendary western routes, including the Oregon Trail, the caravan route between Jefferson City and Santa Fe and the centuries old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe to Los Angeles.

There are several political elements to its geography, designed to appeal to the American public. The heavily drawn border in the Pacific Northwest shows the American claims to the region, running the border along the 54 degree 40 minute line, famously known as the “Fifty-Four Forty” claim. The British government’s claims along the Columbia River are also shown but with a much fainter red line. Ultimately, the dispute was settled through the Oregon Treaty of 1846 (the publishing year of this map) with the border running on its current 49th parallel. The other most prominent cartographic political statement is the size and shape of Texas. The former Republic of Texas had just been accepted as a member of the United States, but its borders on this map still show the land claims of the Texas government, hence its huge expanse of territory in comparison to its modern borders. These land claims as well as its secession from Mexico and the recent accession into the United States were all triggers for the Mexican American War which began in April-May 1846.

One of the major reasons for the success of this map was that due to its multiple sources, colouring, and cost, it was simply the best and most accessible map of the western lands commercially available to the westward traveller. It was known to have been taken on further expeditions by the influential army officer and western explorer William Emory, and Brigham Young was recorded as having purchased six copies before the Mormon emigration to Utah.

The map was published in a large edition along with a booklet which bore a description of the states and lands present on the map. The map was folded within the booklet, making it an extremely practical and portable item. Unfortunately, one its disadvantages was that due to its low cost, it was printed on very thin, mass-produced paper that has generally not stood the test of time. So, while it was printed in large numbers, its survival rate is relatively low, making it a very rare item for current collectors, particularly in good condition.

Original hand colour. [USA9362]