Geological Map of Long & Staten Islands with the Environs of New York From the Topographical Surveys of J. Calvin Smith.

Rare hand-colored example of Mather's monumental pre-Civil War wall map of Long Island, the finest and largest map of Long Island of the period. One page, two sheets joined from the topographical surveys of J. Calvin Smith, and lithographed by Endicott. Issued with Mather's 1843 Geology of New York, the map offers fine detail of the island before the intense late 19th century population growth and the completion of the Long Island Railroad (terminates here at Half Hollow Hills). The areas from Westhampton through Montauk are particularly well delineated. In very good condition with toning and closed tears. The piece measures 53 inches by 25 inches. William Williams Mather (1804—1859) was an American geologist, educator, and mapmaker whose cartographic and scientific contributions played a notable role in the early development of geological surveying in the United States. Trained at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mather combined rigorous scientific methodology with practical fieldwork, producing some of the most detailed geological maps of his time. As the first State Geologist of Ohio, he directed the Ohio Geological Survey (1837—1844), creating comprehensive maps and reports that advanced understanding of the region’s mineral resources, stratigraphy, and topography. Mather’s cartographic work reflected the growing 19th-century emphasis on systematic mapping for economic development, infrastructure planning, and scientific knowledge.…