Moïse

1829 · 8887 — Portland 1829. No Binding. Very Good. 50 ¾ x 40 ¼ inches. Steel engraving. Original wash color refreshed; expertly conserved re-mounted on new linen; a few cracks & marginal mends but fine for this kind. The very rare three copies cited in OCLC first edition of this excellent map of Maine by the state's first mapmaker. An exceptionally well-preserved example. Unlike many early American state maps that struggled to get completed Greenleaf's received a warm commendation from the state legislature even before it was published and the mapmaker was granted $1000 to aid him in finishing the map. Greenleaf later received $640 from the legislature for 40 copies of the map that were obtained for state use a remarkable $16 per copy. Perhaps the large number of copies sold for official rather than private use helps account for the map's present rarity. The map was originally intended to accompany an atlas and survey of the state that Greenleaf published the same year but very few complete sets of the three items are known to have survived. Greenleaf appears to have taken special care in the production of this map. Although published in Portland Maine Greenleaf employed as engravers for this work the estimable J. H. Young and F. Dankworth both of whom produced major works for the firms of S. A. Mitchell and others. This precisely detailed map which shows ten counties in different colors provides state county town and township boundary lines. The state's many rivers lakes ponds and even falls are shown as are roads and elevations. The map was re-published in 1844 by Greenleaf's son and namesake from the same plates but with emendations and several times thereafter. Greenleaf published two earlier maps of the state in 1815 and 1820 but the present work was by far his finest. Ristow W. American Maps and Mapmakers pp. 95-96; Catalogue Raisonne Important Maine Maps. Auction Catalogue for Thompson Collection Auction Robert E. Croul 2003 lot 119. unknown