"ENDOWED WITH THAT COMBINATION OF SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC SENSE THAT SPELLS THE TRUE CARTOGRAPHER"

TANNER, H. S. The American Traveller; or Guide Through the United States. Containing Brief Notices of the Several States, Cities, Principal Towns, Canals and Rail Roads, &c. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1837. 16mo, publisher's original patterned cloth, original printed paper label on front cover. $1500.

Third edition of Tanner’s illustrated United States guidebook, with four engraved plates, four double-page engraved city plans (of Baltimore, Boston, New York and Philadelphia), and a large (22 by 19 inches) hand-colored map of the United States.

Born in New York City, Henry Schenck Tanner "was endowed with that combination of scientific and artistic sense that spells the true cartographer and that led him ultimately to produce for his time the outstanding map representations of the territory of the United States, based on a critical study of the source material" (DAB). The large folding map is entitled "Map of the Roads, Canals & Rail Roads of the United States," extending west beyond the Mississippi River into Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa, with 17 regional and city maps in vignettes around the border. Book includes numerous tables of distances by stage, canal and steamboat routes between cities and towns. With six pages of advertisements for Tanner's maps and charts at rear, as called for. Sabin 94311. Howes T24.

A bit of spotting to plates, large maps in excellent condition with expert paper repair to large folding map, rear inner hinge expertly reinforced, original cloth and paper label unusually good. Scarce in this condition.