LARGE HAND-COLORED COLTON MAP OF NEW YORK STATE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE MANUAL FOR 1857

(NEW YORK) [HEADLEY, Joel T.]. Manual for the Use of the Legislature of the State of New York. Albany: Weed, Parsons, 1857. Thick 12mo, original full red morocco gilt, all edges gilt. $900.

Official state legislative manual for 1857, with a large hand-colored lithographic map of New York State published by leading New York mapmaker, Joseph H. Colton. Also contains folding diagrams of the two chambers of government.

Included are county-by-county census figures, postal, transportation, and social services information, lists of legislators and legislative rules (compiled by Sherman Croswell), as well as a reprint of Jefferson’s famous Manual of Parliamentary Practice. The large folding 1857 Railroad & Township Map of New York State was published by the New York firm of Joseph H. Colton. In 1833, Colton purchased the copyrights to the famous David Burr map of New York State (1829) and during the subsequent 20 or more years published multiple variations, re-engraved by Samuel Stiles. After the Civil War, Colton emerged as the foremost publisher of western maps, “to fill the need created by the establishment of the territories of Colorado, Nevada, and Dakota early in 1861” (Ristow, 459). See Sheets, 68. This copy belonged to Lorenzo Burrows, state comptroller and candidate for governor in 1858, with his name stamped on the front cover.

Small tear to map at stub. Barely visible dampstain to bottom corner of text block. An about-fine copy.