“THEY ARE VERY RARE”: EXCEPTIONALLY RARE COMPLETE PANORAMA OF THE SEAT OF WAR, WITH SIX VERY LARGE DOUBLE-PAGE ELEPHANT FOLIO BIRDS-EYE CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC VIEWS OF CONFEDERATE THEATRES OF WAR

(CIVIL WAR) BACHMANN, John. Panorama of the Seat of War. New York: John Bachmann, 1861. Elephant folio (17 by 23 inches), contemporary three-quarter calf rebacked with original spine laid down, marbled boards, original leather label on front cover.

Very rare complete first edition of this collection of six dramatic double-page large folio chromolithographic ‘Birds Eye Views’ of Confederate States’ Civil War campaign theatres. Among the fine full color 1861 views is the very rare and famous Bird’s Eye View of Texas and Part of Mexico.

“One of the finest American artists and lithographers specializing in bird’s-eye views” (Stephenson & McKee). “Bachmann did six views of the Confederate States… They are very rare” (Rumsey). “No finer artist of city views worked in America than John Bachmann. Unfortunately, there is no artist about whom less is known” (Reps). Plates include: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia; North and South Carolina and part of Georgia; Florida and parts of Georgia and Alabama; Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and part of Florida; Kentucky and Tennessee, showing Cairo and part of the southern states; and Texas and part of Mexico. All plates dated 1861. Smoke over Fort Donelson in the Kentucky/Tennessee view indicates an issue date (second state) for that plate as after mid-February, 1862. The clouds of smoke commemorate the siege and surrender of Fort Donelson, between February 11th and the 16th, 1862, led by Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant. The 12,000-strong garrison’s unconditional surrender was a major victory for the Union and a catastrophe for the South: Kentucky stayed in the Union as a result, and Tennessee became vulnerable to a Northern advance along the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. As a result Grant was promoted to Major General, and came to be considered as an important figure in the western theater of the war. Another edition was issued in 1864, by a different publisher. Stephenson, Civil War Maps (1989) 23. Rumsey 2657. Reps, 160. One plate with small institutional stamp to verso, evidence of stamp removal to a few other plates.

Some plates with expert restoration, mostly marginal. Texas plate with restoration to bottom margin, all lettering present. A very good copy. Rare—especially complete with all six panoramas.