Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47040

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47040

Texas of the United States of America, Shewing the Galveston, Houston, & Henderson Rail Road. London: King, Lith.; [1857]. Map, 20 x 15 3/4 inches. A very scarce hand-colored map of Texas showing both completed and proposed railroads, including the main lines of the Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad.

According to Rumsey, this is "probably the first railroad map of Texas," adapted from Colton's 1857 atlas map of the state. In that same year, the Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad was raising funds in London, and this map was likely created to accompany a bond prospectus aimed at potential investors. OCLC lists only a single copy in the United States, held at the University of Texas Arlington Central Library.

On the verso, United States of America, Railroads Already Open, measuring 14 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches; obscured by archival tissue.

Condition: Professionally washed and backed with archival tissue. Cellophane tape removed at a previous time, resulting in adhesive staining. A few instances of loss at the folds and bottom margin, some touching the map image. Chipping at the bottom edge, resulting in the loss of a few letters at the imprint. Light pencil annotation near the bottom right, mostly erased.

Reference: Rumsey 5179.

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