- More
Exceedingly Rare Contract of Colonization of Mercer Colony with Map,...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
Exceedingly Rare Contract of Colonization of Mercer Colony with Map, two conjoined sheets, 10.5" x 16.5", printed on three sides. [New Orleans, 1845]. First page: "The/Contract of Colonization,/of/Charles F. Mercer, et al./with/The President of Texas,/January 29, 1844." Signed in type by Sam Houston as President, Anson Jones as Secretary of State, and Charles P. Mercer. Second page (verso of first page): "The Agreement,/Between/Charles F. Mercer, Original Grantee,/of the/Republic of Texas,/and the/Stockholders of the/Republic of Texas./and the/Stockholders of the Texas Association." Blanks are not filled in. On the third page, opposite page two, is a detailed 9.25" x 8.75" lithographed map with original hand-colored shading (yellow) and outline (blue): "Map/of the/Mercer Colony,/in/Texas./May 1st 1845/Scale 20 Miles to an Inch." At bottom right: "Fishbourne's Lithog. 46, Canal St." [New Orleans] The map bears three small ink inscriptions: notation of "raft" on the Trinity River (with drawing of five horizontal lines indicating a blockage of logs at that point), addition of the exact date of the 5th Grant to C.F. Mercer ("29th" added to "Jany 1844"), and correction of the date of the 2nd (Peters) grant ("1843" changed to "1841"). First printing of an important colonization imprint relating to early settlement of Northeast Texas, with the first large-scale map of East Texas and perhaps the earliest printed map to name and locate Dallas, about 10 miles west of the Mercer Colony in the Peters tract.Mercer Colony, one of the largest empresario contracts in Texas, was located roughly between the Brazos and Sabine Rivers, east and south of the Peters Colony. The contract was possible under a statute enacted by the Texas Congress in February 1841, which restored the policy of empresario grants that had existed under Mexico. President Sam Houston granted Charles Mercer his contract on January 29, 1844. Mercer's contract was always controversial, particularly because Houston granted it after vetoing a bill that took away presidential authority to grant such contracts, and the Congress then overrode Houston's veto one day after the Mercer contract was granted. This contract dated January 29, 1844, and the agreement between Charles F. Mercer and the Stockholders of the Texas Association, the Articles of Association, are the fundamental documents for the Mercer Colony. Creased where formerly folded, mild toning in blank area above map. When the map was folded to approximately 3" x 4.75" to fit in one's pocket, two blank areas were then exposed. It is these two areas that are mildly toned. Very fine condition. From the collection of Darrel Brown.
Reference: Streeter 1594: "The map which is on the large scale of 20 miles to an inch is of great interest, as it shows the boundaries of the first three grants to the Peters group, and of the fifth grant of January 29, 1844, to Mercer." Streeter locates only three copies of this first issue; there are four issues of the contract, but only two of them have the map; Streeter locates only one copy of the other issue with the map. According to Streeter, Theodore Garnett testifies that the map and contract were distributed by Mercer (his uncle) in May 1845.
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $9) per lot.
Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)Decorative Art
Ends on 04/17/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 04/18/2021
Currency
Ends on 04/21/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 04/21/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/22/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 04/22/2021
US Coins
Ends on 04/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 04/25/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 04/27/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 04/29/2021
Currency
Ends on 04/30/2021
Illustration Art
Ends on 04/30/2021
Entertainment
Ends on 05/01/2021
Luxury Accessories
Ends on 05/02/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 05/03/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 05/05/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 05/06/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 05/06/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 05/07/2021
US Coins
Ends on 05/08/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 05/13/2021
US Coins
Ends on 05/15/2021
Currency
Ends on 05/16/2021
Photography
Opens about 04/21/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/23/2021
Historical
Opens about 04/26/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 04/18/2021
Manuscripts
Opens about 04/30/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/28/2021
Silver
Opens about 04/29/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 04/22/2021
Space
Opens about 05/03/2021
Western & Texas Art
Opens about 04/30/2021
Historical
Opens about 05/03/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/22/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/23/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 05/04/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/05/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/29/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/29/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 05/03/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/12/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/14/2021
Entertainment
Opens about 05/14/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 05/21/2021
Arms & Armor
Opens about 05/18/2021
US Coins
Opens about 05/08/2021
Rare Books
Opens about 05/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 05/19/2021
Photography
Opens about 05/19/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 05/20/2021
US Coins
Opens about 05/15/2021
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
The pre and post sales experience was wonderful and flawless. Heritage has the best in-house operation I have ever seen and their people are not only professional but fun to work with, especially Steve C.View More Testimonials
As for Heritage's online system… Yes the interface is more complex than what we are used to with SAN but what is behind that interface is amazing for sellers and buyers alike. It is real time and for a real serious auction buyer there is nothing better in the auction industry, bar none.
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search