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Francis Moore, Jr. Map and Description of Texas, containing Sketches of its History, Geology, Geography and Statistics:...
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Description
Extremely Rare First Edition of this Important Emigrant Guide to Texas, One of Only Three Recorded Copies Complete with Plates and Map
Francis Moore, Jr. Map and Description of Texas,
containing Sketches of its History, Geology, Geography and
Statistics: With concise statements, relative to the
soil, climate, productions, facilities of transportation,
population of the country; and some brief remarks Upon the
Character and Customs of its Inhabitants. Philadelphia: H.
Tanner, Junr.; New York: Tanner & Disturnell, 1840.FIRST EDITION. 12mo. 143, [1], [1, errata], [1] pages. Illustrated with eight uncolored wood-engraved plates, including frontispiece, and large engraved folding map of Texas at end, with original full hand-coloring in wash, entitled: "Genl. Austin's Map of Texas with Parts of the Adjoining States, compiled by Stephen F. Austin." Published by H.S. Tanner, Philadelphia. Engraved by John & Wm. W. Warr, Philad. (29.5" x 23.5"). Bound in original blind-embossed dark brown publisher's ribbed cloth, gilt-lettered on upper cover, "Map and Description of Texas 1840," signed by the binder with discreet blindstamp in upper and lower borders "B. G. Peck" and "Binder" on both covers.
Extremely rare first edition of this important emigrant guide to Texas, one of only three recorded copies complete with plates and map. Includes Stephen F. Austin's epochal map pulled from the plate of the first printing, and illustrated with eyewitness scenes of Texas-including the earliest known view of the Alamo.
Francis Moore, Jr. (1808-1864), editor and later owner of the Telegraph and Texas Register, wrote this text from his firsthand observations and experiences while residing in Texas. His index refers to the towns, missions, and major waterways, with the book itself arranged by counties. He became the second mayor of Houston, Texas, in 1838. He was elected twice more and served as mayor of the city in three consecutive decades, the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.
Austin's map appears here in its rarest issue, fully colored and in its most complete form, more correctly reflecting the geography and political divisions of the Republic of Texas, with many added place names and showing both land grants and counties. The present map was pulled from the same plate as the original 1830 edition of Austin's map, which was successively altered as it was reissued. In the present edition, the title has been changed by removing the Mexican eagle and substituting: "Genl. Austins." The map in this book is based immediately on the 1839 edition of the map, but with important changes. According to Streeter (1363A note): "Among them, Harrisburg, Robertson, and Shelby Counties are now Harris, Milam, and Tanaha. Travis County is shown, which, as it was established in 1840, is not on the Hunt and Randel map of 1839. Fayette County is incorrectly called Lafayette. The new capital of Texas, named City of Austin, is shown for the first time, and San Felipe de Austin is now Austin."
The remarkable plates depict accurate eyewitness depictions of Texas missions and towns as they existed around 1840. "There are surprisingly few books entered in this bibliography with actual, rather than imaginary, illustrations of Texas places" (Streeter 1363A). The frontispiece plate "Ruins of the Alamo," is considered to be the first published view of the Alamo. The list of plates comprise: "Ruins of the Alamo", "Mission of San Jose", "Mission del Espiritu Santo", "Mission de la Concepcion", "Town of Sanantonio de Bexar", "Church in the Square of San Antonio", "Town of Goliad Formerly La Bahia", and "Scene near Austin." A second issue was published in1844 using remaindered sheets of the 1840 issue, but with a cancel title dated 1844, a few leaves apparently reset, the map replaced different map in smaller format was substituted, and the plates were omitted.
Condition: Binding skilfully rebacked with the original spine laid down, corners bumped with slight areas of boards exposed, a few tiny voids in cloth. Some minor pale foxing to title-page and frontispiece, occasional light foxing to text (mostly on pages adjacent to plates) and plates, the frontispiece plate (Ruins of the Alamo) with small ink transfer from ownership inscription on title-page. Map with a few tiny, clean splits at folds (occasional miniscule loss), some of which have been professionally strengthened. A fine and bright copy.
References: Bradford 3666; Clark, Old South III:212; Graff 2880; Howes M-764; Raines, p. 151; Streeter 1363 ("Exceedingly rare, only 3 copies known with map and plates").
Provenance: Contemporary ink ownership inscription of Levi Lewis dated March 8, 1844, on front fly leaf; signed again by Lewis on title page and dated March 1845; with his price of "87-1/2 cts" on front pastedown. A certain Levi Lewis is listed as living in Atascosa County, Texas (created from Bexar County in 1856), and his brand and ear marks shown in S.A. Long's 1865 Texas Stock Directory, p. 140. In 1860 a Levi Lewis also secured a land grant in Bexar County, and the Rambie-Lewis family cemetery is located in present-day Somerset, Texas, which was originally in Bexar County.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
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