Johnson’s North America

Continental overview of North America shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.

This wonderful map of North America was published in New York by Alvin Jewett Johnson in 1868. The finely engraved image enclosed in a decorative border presents a geographic and political snapshot of the Central America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada; with territorial outlines defined by original hand color.

Roads, railroads, and explorers’ routes are noted throughout, though America’s transportation network far exceeds that of other nations. Of particular interest is the depiction of the Pony Express – in operation for less than a year (1860-1861), but an indelible part of the history of the West. Toponyms identify a fascinating variety of forts, trading posts, missions, and geographic features. Native American tribes are labeled across much of the Great Plains and Alaska and topography is shown in hachure. An interesting and attractive map of North America near the end of the 1860s.