TANNER, Henry Schenck (1786-1858)
Illinois and Missouri by H. S. Tanner. Improved to 1825
Philadelphia: H. S. Tanner, 1825. Copper-engraving with full period colour. Sheet size: 31 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches. Plate mark: 29 3/8 x 23 3/4 inches.
One of the earliest state maps of Illinois and Missouri, this is the revised second issue with significant changes to the mapping of the Mississippi headwaters and with an early depiction of the beginnings of the Santa Fe Trail.
Henry Tanner's A New American Atlas was the most distinguished atlas published in America during the nineteenth century. The maps were carefully constructed from the best and most recent surveys. They were finely engraved on a large-scale, printed on high quality paper, and carefully hand colored. Because of the great expense involved in the production and publication, the atlas was published in five parts between 1819 and 1823.
This is one of the earliest maps to show Illinois and Missouri as American states. The map was added to the fifth part of the atlas in 1823. For Illinois, organized counties appear only in the southern part of the state. The northernmost part of the state is still the preserve of the Sauk and Fox. Further south, between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, are the Military Bounty Lands. A primitive Chicago and Fort Dearborn appear at the mouth of the Chicago River. For Missouri, a state since 1820, counties appear only along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Missouri's northern and southern extremities are quite empty.
This copy is an example of the improved second issue of the map. The most significant changes can be seen in Tanner's revised mapping of the headwaters of the Mississippi. Tributaries off the Tete de Mort River have been removed, the locations and directions of the Sahsinakway, Fievre and Apple Rivers flow north to south (as opposed to northeast to southwest), Oak Creek has been removed, and the lead mines just north of the Tete de Mort River are now named Dubuque Lead Mines. Another significant change to the map is the addition of Lexington, Missouri; platted in 1822 and made the county seat the following year, Lexington would become an outfitting point for many travelling westward on the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. Other changes to the map from the first edition include the additions of several counties in Illinois created since the first printing.
Phillips, Atlases , 3669-12; cf. Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers , pp. 191-198; Rumsey, 2755.017; cf. Sabin 94323.