America the

beautiful Courtesy of Arader Galleries

Map of the United States

with Contiguous British
& Spanish Possessions.
Published by John Melish.
Philadelphia, circa 1820.

J
ohn Melish was a highly educated Scottish
merchant who settled in Philadelphia in
1811, eventually to become one of the first
great cartographers on the American continent.
Melish drew on a number of official state maps to
produce this mammoth map of the United States,
which was used on several occasions to determine
boundary lines between the U.S. and Mexico. He
first published it in 1816, updating it frequently over
the following several years as new discoveries came
to light
This great wall map is coveted by collectors,
for it was the first to depict the United States
potentially stretching from Atlantic to Pacific,
thereby embodying the nascent notion of “Manifest
Destiny.” Furthermore, it demonstrated a remarkably
precise understanding of American geography, for
the travel accounts of Zebulon Pike, Lewis & Clark,
Thomas Nuttall, and William Darby were used as
soon as they appeared. Walter Ristow, the legendary
historian of the mapping of America, could not Although O’Sullivan spoke these words in self-advancement. The idea of Manifest Destiny
heap enough praise on this map. He considered it the 1840s, he summed up a sense of destiny that became the torch that lit the way for American
“a significant milestone in the history of American had its origins several decades earlier and found expansion.
commercial cartography,” and wrote that “Melish its first true visual expression in Melish’s great Melish’s map was produced just as the notion
played a foremost role in bringing together from map. Already in the early of Manifest Destiny was
many and varied sources the geographical and 1820s, the people of the United “This exceptional crystallizing in the general
cartographical knowledge of the period, and States felt it was their mission map was Melish’s American consciousness,
presenting it systematically and graphically for the to extend the “boundaries most noted and it gave visual expression
edification and enlightenment of the citizens of the of freedom” to others by accomplishment, a to the glorious fate that was
young republic.” imparting their idealism compelling testament anticipated for the young
No nation ever existed without some sense of and belief in democratic nation. Recognizing the
national destiny or purpose. The notion of Manifest
to the irresistible
institutions to those who were seemingly endless demand for
Destiny revitalized a sense of “mission” or national capable of self-government. pull that Manifest geographical information on
destiny for many Americans. The term was first But there were other forces Destiny -- then the American West, Melish
coined by a democratic leader and influential editor and political agendas at work purely hypothetical undertook to accumulate a
by the name of John L. O’Sullivan, who wrote: as well. As the population of -- exerted on vast amount of descriptions,
“.... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread the original thirteen colonies the American statistics, and maps. Published
and to possess the whole of the continent which grew and the U.S. economy consciousness.” just after Melish’s death, this
Providence has given us for the development of the developed, the desire and edition shows the alterations
great experiment of liberty and… of self government attempts to expand into new land increased. For made in 1820 when he enlarged the size of the map
entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to many colonists, land represented potential income, to show the West Indies and all of southern Mexico.
the space of air and the earth suitable for the full wealth, self-sufficiency and freedom. Expansion For the Texas area, Melish relied heavily on the
expansion of its principle and destiny of growth.” into the western frontiers offered opportunities for surveys conducted by William Darby, who had
personally surveyed much of the Sabine River area. Additions in Ohio include N. Haven, Huron,
Melish’s map significantly improved the descriptions Mecca, Putney, Woodsfield, Burlington, Hillsboro,
and depictions of the Texas interior, but even more Wilmington, Xenia, and Troy. A dotted Indian
significant is its official association with the Adams- boundary is deleted in the western part of the State.
Onis Treaty. Also called the Transcontinental Treaty Deletions in Mississippi include “Yazoo Lands”
of 1819, the Adams-Onis Treaty was one of the “Ceded by the Choctaws” “Indian Boundary” and
critical events that defined the U.S.-Mexico border, several dotted boundaries. In the same State the
and Melish’s map was the main one consulted by names Warrington, Monticello, Holmville, Medville,
negotiators. Shieldsborg, and Cotton Gin Pt. are added from
Perhaps its most lasting value to history, however, Natchez to Stephens.
is its depiction of the young nation stretching from An unnamed canal (obviously the Erie) is added to
coast to coast. This exceptional map was Melish’s north central New York State. The designation Gulf of
most noted accomplishment, a compelling testa Mexico has been moved slightly southward.
ment to the irresistible pull that Manifest Destiny -- On the inset map are added the names Merida and
then purely hypothetical -- exerted on the American Caribes, latitude numbers 8, 9, and 10, and three
consciousness. unnamed tributaries to a southern branch of the
There is little difference between the 1820 fourth Orinoco River.
state and the 1820 third state of the Melish’s 1820 The following modifications are noted along the
Map of the United States with Contiguous British & U.S. - Mexican boundary, established by the 1819
Spanish Possessions. The single apparent difference is treaty: the dot-dash boundary line has been completed
the alteration of the total population column changed along the 42 parallel between the Multnomah River
to read from “81,629,903” to “18,629,903.” More and the headwaters of the Arkansas and the boundary
substantial changes are manifest in the third state of line is moved and reengraved on the west bank of the
the 1820 edition. Arkansas between the junction of parallel 42 with
The third is the first state of Melish’s map to be the 34 meridian (west of Washington, D.C.) and the
published from nine plates. It extends southward intersection of the 41 parallel with the 32 meridian.
beyond 16 north latitude and embraces the southern
half of Mexico, part of Guatemala, all of Cuba, Courtesy of Arader Galleries. For more
Jamaica Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, information, please email HBL1982@gmail.com or
and the southern Bahamas. The inset map has also call (212) 628-3668.
has also been extended southward to 6 north latitude.
A second “General Statistical Table” has been added
in the southwest corner of the main map, in which
the population table column is incorrectly given as
81,629,903.
In the old statistical table the following changes are
noted: Arkansas Territory is added below Alabama ; “
Ceded to U.S. by Treaty” inserted before “Floridis”;
Territory is dropped after “Missouri”; and a new
“Missouri Territory” is inserted.
The Tennessee-Kentucky border east of the
Tennessee River has been moved northward.
Christian C.H. in southern Kentucky is changed to
Hopkinsville.
“Philda” is added in north central Kentucky. In
Illinois the following are deleted : “Ceded by the Sac
& Fox Indians 3 Nov. 1804”Indian Bondy”, “Indian
By.”, “I Boundary,” and three dotted boundaries
adjacent to these designations. Place names added
in Illinois are Alton, Vandalia, Carlisle, Covington,
Browns Ville, Vienna, Hamburg, America, Golconda,
Carnir, Palestine and Harrisonville.
In Missouri the names Jackson, Boonville, and
Bluff Town are added Herculaneum is relocated,
Bonhomme R. is deleted, and the final Y in Missouri
Territory is move westward beyond the limits of the
State of Wisconsin.
The oblique name “Arkansaw Territory” is
replaced by Arkansas Territory, lettered horizontally;
is changed to “Arkansaw District” is changed to
“Arkansas District; and Cedran and Lawrence are
introduced as new names in Arkansas Territory.
In Indiana “Ceded at Ft. Wayne Sept. 1809 is
deleted along with eight dotted Indian boundaries;
Fredonia, Mt. Carmel, Palmyra, and Terre Haute are
added; Ft. Hairrson is relocated ; and several roads
and trails in the southern part o the state are rerouted.