Howell Reading (4 results)

Second state of the smaller version of Reading Howell's very important map of Pennsylvania. Howell's map was the first post-Revolutionary map of the entire state, and the first to show all the state's boundaries. "This is the best map of Pennsylvania to appear in the 18th century, and the first to show its exact boundaries" - Wheat & Brun. Howell was a landowner and a surveyor, and he used his own work, along with the personal surveys of others, to create his map. This condensed version of Howell's map, first published the same year as the larger version, shows the state in its entirety, with towns, roads, and topographical features. New canals are also shown, including one beginning at the mouth of Conewago canal on the Susquehanna River, and another beginning on the Delaware River just north of Pennsylvania and going to Norris Town. In this second state the counties are outlined and identified. The larger version of the map is extremely rare and almost unobtainable. WHEAT & BRUN 443. EVANS 24412 (ref). PHILLIPS, MAPS, p.678 (ref). 19½ x 27½ inches. River route from Lake Erie to Philadelphia marked in contemporary color. On two sheets, joined at center. Older tape repair on verso; two tape repairs at top and bottom of center seam causing slight staining, primarily in blank areas. Small hole in neatline area of left top edge. Lightly but evenly toned. Still very good.

Case map, folding and dissected with original linen backing, in very good restored condition. Slipcase is not present. Bright outline color by county. The color appears to be roughly contemporary, but is almost certainly not original. This example has six counties (Union and Columbia out of Northumberland, Pike out of Wayne, Lebanon out of Dauphin, Lehigh out of Northampton and Schuylkill out of Northampton and Berks) whose names have been roughly inserted in manuscript in a style similar to the printed county names. Bradford County is named but not outlined in color. These counties have been outlined in color, indicating that the color was not original. However, all of these counties were established between 1810 and 1814 and Perry County, which was established in 1820 is not shown, indicating that these manuscript additions were made shortly after the map was printed. This is the smaller of Reading Howell's maps of Pennsylvania, which was first published in 1792 as a reduced version of his 4-sheet map of Pennsylvania. This is the only issue printed by Vallance. It was published in Philadelphia by Kimber & Conrad & Johnson & Warner. A fine copy of an important early American map. In addition to being the first and best American map of Pennsylvania of the 18th and early 19th century, it was the definitive map of the state until John Melish published his large map in 1822. See Ristow, p. 108 for a lengthier history of the Howell maps of Pennsylvania.

Engraved map (approx. 86 x 56 cm.) hand-colored in outline and contained in unpainted wooden frame (approx. 104 x 74 cm.); engraved vignette depicting the Schuykill Permanent Bridge; dedicatory cartouche reading "To the Governor and Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania this Map is Respectfully inscribed by the author." Fine, although not examined out of frame. Explanation includes houses of worship and "minerals" as well as the "line limiting the purchase made of the Indians November 1768.".

Fine folding engraved map (34 x 21 inches) laid down on cartographic linen in 18 sections, showing the state of Pennsylvania with all its counties each with original hand-colour in outline, decorated with a vignette of the Schuylkill permanent Bridge lower left, and the title within an oval cartouche surrounded by a fine nautical vignette lower right, and dedication to "The Governor and Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" within an oval cartouche surrounded by an agricultural vignette upper right (some very minor toning, spotting and one or two pale stains). "This is the best map of Pennsylvania to appear in the 18th century, and the first detailed map of the State to show its exact boundaries" (Wheat & Brun) First published in 1792, when it was the first official map of Pennsylvania, and the largest and most detailed of the time. It remained the best map, and a source for other cartographers, until Melish published his map in 1820. Samuel Lewis used Howell's map as the basis for his map of Pennsylvania published in 'Carey's American Atlas' of 1795. The commissioning document from the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in 1790 states that Howell was to be paid a maximum of 200 pounds for producing this map on behalf of the state, and that if he failed to complete the map within two and a half years he would have to repay the money, if he was successful then the council requested twenty-five copies for the state's use. See "The Statues at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801" Clarence M. Busch, State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1908 page 479; Phillips, p. 679; Ristow, pp. 108-110.