Quivira The Legendary City of Gold & Riches

The Legendary City of Gold & Riches: Quivira

Throughout history many tales are told and stories are share of mythical places around the world that have taken explorers deep into uncharted territory.  None is more famous that the legend of Quivira,

Spanish Conquistador Francisco Vazquez de Coronado first mentioned the mythical city of Quivira in 1541 when he was exploring parts of New Mexico and the eventual southwestern United States.  Driven by his desire to find the mythical Seven Cities of Gold or “Seven Cities of Cibola.”

The story of Quivira is based on Portuguese legend during the 8^th century on a Catholic expedition on the island of Antilla.  New Spain (New Mexico/Mexico) was the place plotted for exploration to find Quivira.

Coronado heard from a local Indian called The Turk that a wealthy civilization called Quivira was located far to the east.  Coronado was told that “trees hung with golden bells and people whose pots and pans were beaten gold.” During the middle of 1541 Coronado lead an expedition of 30 with his army and priests (Franciscan friar named Juan de Padilla), along with local Indians through the Great Plains in search of Quivira.

Ultimately Quivira has been plotted to be in central Kansas, although obviously there is no city of gold.  Archaeologists have found several 16^th century artifacts around the area that may have been part of the Coronado expedition.

Many maps of the North America region in the 16^th and 17^th century include the city of Quivira, although its location generally has moved with time.  In general Quivira is places around Kansas, Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado, northeastern New Mexico and the Texas panhandle.

Remaining references to the cartographic region include Lake Quivira and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in the state of Kansas.

New Acquision: 1853 Western States – Smith

I recently acquired this great map showing the western states and territories in the United States in 1853.

An ORIGINAL antique 1853 map of the WESTERN UNITED States from Smith Schools Atlas.The States and Territorie sare individually hand watercolored. The West is shown very different from today. The entire upper Great Plains is shown as a huge NEBRASKA TERRITORY. The WASHINGTON and OREGON TERRITORIES are twice the size of the modern States and extend east all the way to the Rocky Mountains.

The Oregon Territory was created in 1848, and Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859.

The KANSAS TERRITORY extends west all the way to the Rockies and included modern Denver. A huge UTAH TERRITORY, with a population of only 11,000, included all of modern Utah and most of NEVADA, COLORADO, and part of WYOMING. FILLMORE CITY is marked as the “Proposed Capital” of the UTAH TERRITORY. The NEW MEXICO TERRITORY included all of modern NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, and part of COLORADO and NEVADA. CALIFORNIA had just become a state in 1850 and is shown with a population of 264,000.

Most of the States and Territories have their populations printed on them. The locations of dozens of Indian Tribes are shown throughout the West.

Map measures 10 X 12 inches.

he copyright date of 1853 is printed along the lower border. The original hand watercolors are still bright and vibrant. This map is over 155years old published a decade prior to the CIVIL WAR.

New Acquision: April 1748 edition of Gentleman’s Magazine

1748 Gentleman’s Magazine, London, with Thomas Jeffrys Map.

This April 1748 edition of Gentleman’s Magazine was printed in London and contains 47 pages.  Included in this edition is a folded engraving of city and fortifications of Maestricht by Thomas Jefferys.

Maestricht is a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern Dutch province of Limburg, the capital.

During 1673-1678 french troops occupied Maestricht and it was eventually restored to the Dutch in 1748.  This reclaim did not last long, in the same year Maestricht was retaken by the French.  The Siege of Maastricht took place in April-May 1748 during the War of the Austrian Succession. A French force under the overall command of Maurice de Saxe besieged and captured the Dutch barrier fortress of Maastricht in the final few months of the campaign in the Low Countries. After a relatively long siege the garrison of Maastricht capitulated and marched out with the honours of war. Maastricht was returned along with France’s conquests in the Austrian Netherlands according to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle signed in 1748.

The map in this magazine outlines the plan to rebuild the fortifications.

Highlighted is an important article on the impressment of Colonists in Boston to work and man ships. Interesting information pertaining to the fact that many of those who settle in the Colonies rarely return to England. The impressment caused riots in Boston and the article is followed by a letter Governor Shirley followed by a response from the Speaker of the Massachsetts Bay General Assembly Hutchinson.

There is also the discovery and sighting of a new comet.

Full-page plan of Cornhill which was devastated by a fire.

A New & Correct Plan Of All The Houses Destroyed And Damaged by The Fire Which Began In Exchange-Alley, Cornhill, On Friday, March 25th, 1748

Cuts of antiquities as well. Songsgeet also.

Very Good, no binding, measures 5 x 8″.

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New Acquisition: Map of greater New Orleans, Louisiana

I recently acquired a great map of New Orleans, Louisiana from 1931.

Title:  Map of greater New Orleans, Louisiana

Published by: WM E. Boesch, New Orleans Association of Commerce, creator

Size: 21 inches x 34 inches. (1 map ; 49 x 67 cm., on sheet 61 x 92 cm.)

Across the top of the map the Lake Front Development & Parkways are shown.  The west end is shown along with the Spanish “Fort” and the New Orleans Airport.

Canal Street and the Audubon Park are highlighted perfectly.  The out for the Canal Street Ferry is also highlighted near the different Warfs.  The US Naval Reserve on  The Bernard Highway is also being shown, just across from a proposed national park.

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This map shows features such as roads, railroads, canals, levees, drainage, land ownership in outlying areas, cemeteries, parks, Parish boundaries, ferry routes, and more. Includes index in margins.

Condition: Very good condition. No cuts, tares, holes, stains, and no repairs. Normal surface wear on corners and little wear on the folds.

This map is also featured in the Harvard Map Collection.

Famous Map Makers: Pieter Van Der AA

Pieter Van Der AA Map

Pieter Van Der AA

1659-1733

Pieter Van Der AA, a famous publisher during the beginning of the eithteenth century was apprenticed to booksellers’ trade at nine, later to be come a bookseller and auctioneer.

Acquiring the map plates of earlier cartographers and map mappers, Pieter Van Der AA, was famous for re-issuing several important maps in the eighteenth century.  His most important work was the Galerie Agreable Du Monde, a 27 volume TOME that was issued in 1729 and contained over 3,000 plates.  What makes this so rare and sought after is the publication size, just 100 sets.  Common among his engraving are large maps with separate frame borders that eventually contained maps printed into the blank area.

Read about more famous cartographers and map makers.