1879 Map of Texas Realizes $705,000 at Heritage to Become the Most Valuable Lone Star State Map Sold at Auction

Ted Lusher’s lauded assemblage of Texana realizes $2.63 million during record-setting Dec. 2 event DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (Dec. 4, 2023) — Over four decades, Ted Lusher assembled one of the most storied collections of Texas history imaginable. Just days ago, Texas Monthly described Lusher’s carefully curated assemblage as “A Treasure Trove of Texas History.” Accordingly, some 300 collectors spent Saturday afternoon at Heritage’s world headquarters in Dallas and on its website vying for more than 165 jewels from Lusher’s prized cache. And by the time the Ted Lusher Texas History Collection Signature® Auction ended, several records were set en route to an extraordinary $2,635,995 finish. The auction’s top lot was Charles William Pressler and A.B. Langermann’s 1879 Map of the State of Texas, which is among the most significant maps of Texas ever printed and one of the rarest, as there are but three known copies, with this the sole copy in a private collection. Regarded as the first truly accurate map of Texas, it sold for $705,000. That is the highest amount a Texas map has ever realized at auction. Another record was set by Houston’s second mayor, Francis Moore, whose 1840 Map and Description of Texas served as the first guidebook for newcomers to the fledgling Republic of Texas (which wouldn’t become a state for another five years). It contains Stephen F. Austin’s 1840 full-color map of the Republic, and is illustrated with eyewitness scenes of Texas, including the earliest-known view of the fallen Alamo. One of only three recorded copies of this scarce first edition realized $519,000, a new auction record for this vital emigrant guide to Texas. This copy belonged in 1844 to a man named Levi Lewis, who was among the earliest settlers of Bexar County. Lusher chose Heritage because he hoped these treasures would remain in his home state — and, indeed, most of this collection found new homes throughout Texas. “The auction confirms exactly what I thought about this special place we call Texas,” says Lusher, a Kansas City native who has long called Austin home, where much of his collection has been displayed at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. “It underscores the fact that people do have a respect for those who came before, and there is a commitment to learn about and carry on their history and knowledge.” Steve Ivy, Heritage’s co-chairman and CEO, says, “In assembling this world-class collection, Ted Lusher had a connoisseur’s eye, a drive to succeed, an unbounded intellectual curiosity and the resources to bring the three together. We couldn’t be prouder to bring this wonderful collection to market.” Collectors also vied for Austin’s 1846 Map of Texas, the most complete version of the general’s legendary map, as it was the final edition to contain geographical revisions. The map that realized $118,750 Saturday was the first — and only — edition issued after Texas’ statehood and remains among the most authoritative primary documents recording the history of Texas. All of Austin’s maps, rich in detail and accurate where so many others were imprecise, were so popular their buyers heavily used them; hence the reason all editions are now rare, chief among them this masterwork, where the state’s oft-foreboding landscape was shown to be “as inviting as possible,” notes the catalog. Thomas Gay’s March 1836 broadside announcing the fall of the Alamo was another of the auction’s top lots, and deservedly so, as this document informed Texians that the Alamo had fallen. Gay wrote to the people of Texas, “I have just received information by Col. William T. Austin of the fall of the Alimo [sic].” Lusher believes this is the sole surviving copy in private hands of the broadsheet — and it, too, will stay in Texas. Click here for complete results from the Ted Lusher Texas History Collection Signature® Auction. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Robert Wilonsky, VP Public Relations and Communications 214-409-1887 or RobertW@HA.com