A map of Lewis and Clark’s track across the western portion of North America from the Misissippi [sic] to the Pacific Ocean

Manuscript copy, reduced, of William Clark’s 1806-1811 manuscript map in the William Robertson Coe Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University (Lewis and Clark Expedition maps and receipt, ca. 1803-1810, WA MSS 303-304).
Possibly prepared by George Shannon, a private in the Corps of Discovery, who was working in Philadelphia with Nicholas Biddle, the editor of the Journals (see Letter 343, Nicholas Biddle to Clark, Phila. July 8, 1811, in Donald Jackson, Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Urbana, 1962), p. 569).
Sometimes attributed in error to Nicholas King; for example see Sotheby's catalogue cited below.
Possibly used to guide the engraver Samuel Lewis for the printed version published in 1814 as "Map of Lewis and Clark's track, across the western portion of North America : from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, by order of the executive of the United States, in 1804, 5 & 6 / copied by Samuel Lewis from the original drawing by Wm. Clark ; Saml. Harrison fct."
Scale [ca. 1:4,400,000]
Relief shown by hachures.
Identifies Indian tribal regions.
Drawn in sepia ink, with some red and blue highlighting and outlining, captioned in dark brown ink, the whole framed in yellow wash.
Manuscript annotations on verso: Old Lewis & Clark map, probably 1811 [and, in another hand] Very old map Lewis & Clark tract [sic] 1803 & 4 found among papers N.J. Beach, 1914 Lowville St. home -- S.H. Beach.
The printed version was issued in: Lewis, Meriwether. History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the sources of the Missouri : thence across the Rocky mountains and down the river Columbia to the Pacific ocean : performed during the years 1804-5-6 : by order of the government of the United States / [edited by Nicholas Biddle and] prepared for the press by Paul Allen (Philadelphia : Published by Bradford and Inskeep ; New York : Abm. H. Inskeep ; J. Maxwell, printer, 1814), v. 1, opposite title page.
Accompanied by information folder in box.

Referenced In:

Sotheby’s (Firm), Fine books and manuscripts including Americana, Catalogue of sale (New York, N.Y.), June 20, 2003, lot 177, Maps : finding our place in the world (2007), p. 178, 180-181, Exhibited in: "Maps: Finding Our Place in the World," Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, Nov. 2, 2007-Jan. 27, 2008, Exhibited in: "Where in the World are the Words: Maps and Society," Syracuse University Library, Oct. 2000-Jan. 2001

Citation

Clark, William, "A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track Across the Western Portion of North America from the Misissippi [sic] to the Pacific Ocean" (manuscript, circa 1811). VAULT map9C G4050 1811 .C5

Newberry Call Number:

VAULT map9C G4050 1811 .C5

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Geographic Area Covered:

United States, West

Original Resource:

Digital reproduction of: 1 ms. map : hand col. ; 28.5 x 69 cm., in box 39 x 85 x 4 cm.

Digital Image Rights Holder:

Newberry Library

All rights reserved by the Newberry Library. Permission to reproduce in any format must be requested in writing. Contact Photoduplication Department, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, IL 60610. Phone: 312-255-3566 E-mail: photoduplication@newberry.org

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Lewis and Clark's Track, 1803-1805

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Lewis and Clark's Track, 1803-1805