Map of the United States with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Entered.the 16th Day of June, 1820.

Map of the United States with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions. Entered.the 16th Day of June, 1820. Philadelphia: John Melish, 1820 - A Geographical Description of the United States, with the Contiguous British and Spanish Possessions, Intended as an Accompaniment to Melish's Map of these Countries. Large engraved folding map by J. Vallance and H.S. Tanner (43 ½ x 57 in.; 110.4 x 144.8 cm), dissected into 36 segments and mounted on linen, full contemporary handcoloring; fold separation affecting 3 segments, a few holes at interstices, faint offsetting and some toning. Contemporary green paste-paper board slipcase, manuscript label; extremities somewhat worn, loss of one side strip. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION: 8vo (8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 21 x 13.3 cm). 5 engraved maps (one folding and partially hand-colored), errata slip tipped to front free endpaper; scattered staining, mild text browning. Contemporary red roan over marbled boards, smooth spine lettered gilt; rebased and recornered. (65B2E) The scarce 1820 edition, third state (Martin/Ristow), enlarged to include the West Indies and all of Mexico, with fine handcoloring and the original slipcase. Melish was the first publisher in the United States to specialize in geographical and cartographic works. First published in 1816, this was the first American-produced wall map depicting the country from coast to coast. Melish frequently revised and corrected the plates. He published new editions in 1818 (five states), 1819 (two states), 1820 (eight states) 1822 (two states), and 1823 (one state). According to Streeter, who also owned two copies of the 1820 edition (6:3808 dated 6 June 1820 and 6:3809 dated 16 June 1820): "The obvious difference between the June 6th and June 16th maps is in the coloration. In the June 6th, as in all previous editions, states and territories appear outlined in color. In the June 16th edition, they are tinted throughout in the same color as the darker boundary colors." Melish has extended the southern boundary to include the Yucatan peninsula, as well as the Caribbean Islands. The northern boundary of Tennessee is shown along the parallel 36o30' following Congress's ratification of 12 May 1820. The depiction of Lake Michigan and the borders of Illinois and Indiana are also corrected to include Chicago within the Illinois state boundary. Missouri appears as a Territory separate from the Arkansas Territory. Incorporating data from state and military maps as these became available, Melish outlined the reasons for the principal changes in his posthumously published 1826 Geographical Description: "When the late treaty was negotiated with Spain which had reference to the map in fixing the southwest boundary, it was determined to bring forward an entire new edition of the Map, exhibiting Florida as part of the United States, and making all alterations that had taken place in the country, up to the time of publication; and from conviction that Mexico would soon become independent, and would eventually be of great importance to the United States, it was determined to add another sheet exhibiting a complete view of that very interesting country, with all the most important West India Islands. This was accordingly executed, and the supplement was so enlarged as to exhibit a view of the whole West Indies, with Guatimala, the Isthmus of Panama, and the northern provinces of South America, now forming part of the Republic of Colombia. "SCARCE: Only two copies of the third state have sold at auction in the last four decades which have appeared several times: the Streeter/Newman copy (2018) and the Charles J. Tanenbaum copy (2008) which was purchased at auction in 1977. Second edition of the text, after the 1815 original and another similar but earlier issue without the designation of "second edition". PROVENANCE: Charles J. Tannenbaum, Collection of American Cartography (Sotheby's NY, 11 Dec 2008, lot 16; An anonymous consignor (Sotheby's NY, 25 Jan 1977.