County Map of the State of Pennsylvania

Detailed outline of Pennsylvania published just a few years after the Civil War.

This attractive map of Pennsylvania was engraved by W.G. Gamble and published in Philadelphia in 1870 by Samuel Augustus Mitchell. Mitchell was one of the most prominent American mapmakers of the 19th century, and initially got involved with cartography as a school teacher who was frustrated with the quality of available maps. He collaborated with skilled engravers and produced high-quality maps and atlases that contained the most up to date information available. Mitchell’s son would take over the business after his death in 1860 and continue the tremendous output.

His attention to detail is evident within the image, which provides an informative snapshot of The Keystone State just a few years after the conclusion of the Civil War. Counties are colored in a distinctive hue and finely engraved lines label an interesting variety of place names, geographic features, and other locations of interest. A robust network of railroads, many organized to transport the state’s abundant coal deposits, are shown in black. Topography is depicted in hachure and numerous mountain peaks, passes, and ranges are named. The image is framed by a decorative ivy border, a hallmark of Mitchell’s atlases.