Boston Rare MapsSpecializing in rare, important and unusual American maps and prints
The first historical atlas of the United States, by pioneering educator Emma Willard, who in the service of her broader mission became America’s first female map maker. Willard’s atlas features twelve single- or double-sheet maps, beginning with an “introductory map” of the “locations and wanderings of the aboriginal tribes.” Though Native American peoples had long been […]
![Mary H. L. Craig, A map of the United States drawn by Mary H. L. Craig at the Domestic Academy.[Washington County, Kentucky, ca. 1813-14.]](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BRM2822-Craig-East-United-States-after-Shelton-and-Kensett_edited_lowres-scaled-e1686164503496-150x150.jpg)
A most unusual patriotic manuscript map by an American schoolgirl remarkable for its Kentucky origins, interesting subject matter, pleasing design, relatively good condition, and superb provenance. “School” maps are frequently encountered on the antiquarian market; indeed, we have handled perhaps two dozen in the past decade. However, the vast majority of surviving examples were produced […]
![Charles Craig, A MAP of KENTUCKY BY CHARLES CRAIG. [Kentucky, ca. 1810.]](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BRM2822-Craig-Kentucky_lowres-1-scaled-e1686004636672-150x150.jpg)
A schoolboy map of Kentucky, unusual for its size, excellent detail and origins in Kentucky. “School” maps are frequently encountered on the antiquarian market; indeed, we have handled perhaps two dozen in the past decade. However, the vast majority of surviving examples were produced in New England, New York and Pennsylvania, and it is almost […]
![Francis Hoskins, A NEW AND CORRECT MAP of the WORLD According to the latest Discoveries. [with:] W.G. Krebs, A NEW AND CORRECT MAP of the WORLD According to the latest Discoveries. [Maryland or Virginia?]: Washington Academy, Oct. 13, 1814.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BRM3102_3-Hoskins-and-Krebs-composite-1813-copy-e1555451429774-150x150.jpg)
Two nearly-identical schoolboy maps of the world, large in size, detailed in content and refined in execution. Remarkable for having been produced at the same school on the same date. Aside from the intrinsic appeal, these schoolboy maps are significant in having been drawn essentially simultaneously by two young men at the “Washington Academy.” The […]
The “Samling af 50 smaae Landkort,” a charming 1829 Danish-language school atlas compiled and published by a troubled educator. The atlas includes a double-sheet map of the world and 49 single-sheet maps of the continents; European countries, Russia and Turkey; and Danish regions, all in early outline color (The title calls for 50 maps, counting […]
![R. Sherman pix, COURSE OF ATTACK AND DEFENCE. [:] Plan of the entire Works of the Attack of a place from the opening of the Trenches up to its Surrender. United States Military Academy, West Point, Jan. 7, 1832.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BRM4041-Sherman-Course-of-Attack-and-Defence-1832_lowres-scaled-e1636734385411-150x150.jpg)
A large, finely-rendered manuscript plan of the siege of a European-style fortress, drawn in 1832 at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The plan shows the methodical investment and capture of the fortress over the course of a month, using color coding to indicate day-by-day progress of the siege works. The basic siege […]
A striking 1830 historical atlas presenting the progress of history and the expansion of geographical knowledge of the world from a European perspective, depicted on a sequence of twenty-one maps each capturing a historical epoch, with accompanying explanatory text. Note: The illustrations depict only four of the 21 maps in the Atlas; the full contents […]
![Odo Staab, [Didactic manuscript map of Europe.] [Germany], 1813.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BRM3215-Odo-Staab-manuscript-1813_lowres-150x150.jpg)
A unique and utterly charming early 19th-century manuscript visual compendium, combining cartography and natural history and most likely executed for classroom or tutorial use. The composition features a central map of Europe, likely based on one from Johannes Walch’s Allgemeiner Atlas, first issued in 1803. The map is surrounded by a plethora of finely-detailed vignettes: portraits […]
![L[ouis] R[ichard] Klemm, Ph.D, RELIEF PRACTICE MAP SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES New York: William Beverly Harison, 1894.](https://bostonraremaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BRM3735_1-Klemm-South-Atlantic-States-1894_lowres-scaled-e1612214195667-150x150.jpg)
An extremely rare tactile map of the southeast United States printed in raised relief, designed by education innovator Louis Richard Klemm for use by sighted as well as visually-impaired students. The map offers coverage from the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula to Florida and west to the Mississippi River, with the Florida peninsula shown in an inset at […]
A remarkable, even somewhat bizarre, mid-19thcentury geopolitical educational chart by William Bicknell, Jr. of Hartford, Maine. Bicknell (ca. 1804-1887) was a long-time educator in the Hartford, Maine school district. Accord to the Osher Map Library, he “wrote extensively on a variety of political topics, supporting women’s suffrage and opposing the death penalty.” For a time […]