1867 S. Augustus Mitchell “County Map of Utah and Nevada”
Original Hand-Colored Lithograph | Framed | Historic Western Cartography
An authentic 19th-century hand-colored lithograph from Mitchell’s New General Atlas (Philadelphia, 1867), this rare map captures Utah Territory and Nevada just after Nevada’s admission to the Union in 1864. Published by S. Augustus Mitchell Jr., one of America’s most important 19th-century mapmakers, this piece exemplifies the precision and decorative artistry that defined the golden era of American cartography.
Detailed with counties, wagon routes, early mining districts, and settlements, the map portrays the rugged expansion of the American West. Nevada’s newly formed counties—Esmeralda, Nye, Humboldt, Lander, and Lincoln—appear alongside Utah’s early territorial divisions, drawn before its modern boundaries were established. The signature grape-vine border and hand-applied watercolor tinting lend both elegance and authenticity.
About Mitchell’s New General Atlas
Mitchell’s New General Atlas was the flagship publication of the Mitchell mapmaking dynasty, which shaped American geography in the 19th century.
→ Samuel Augustus Mitchell Sr. (1792–1868) began publishing maps and school geographies in the 1830s after being dissatisfied with the poor quality of educational materials. His firm in Philadelphia became one of the most prolific cartographic publishers in the nation.
→ In 1860, his son S. Augustus Mitchell Jr. took over the company, introducing Mitchell’s New General Atlas — an elegantly engraved and hand-colored collection of U.S. and world maps that combined scientific accuracy with decorative beauty.
→ Published annually through the 1860s–1880s, the New General Atlas updated borders, counties, and railroads to reflect the rapid growth of the post–Civil War United States. It became a staple in homes, schools, and libraries and stood alongside the atlases of Colton and Johnson as one of the three great American cartographic series of the era.
Each map in the atlas was printed by lithographic transfer, then finished with watercolor washes by hand — a hallmark of quality that makes these prints both historically significant and aesthetically captivating.
Details
→ Title: County Map of Utah and Nevada
→ Cartographer: S. Augustus Mitchell Jr.
→ Publication Year: 1867
→ Medium: Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
→ Dimensions (map): approx. 11.5" × 14.5"
→ Frame Dimensions: approx. 18" × 22"
→ Provenance: From Mitchell’s New General Atlas, Philadelphia
→ Condition: Very good; light toning and a gentle lower-left crease consistent with age
→ Framing: Custom wood frame with archival matting and UV-protective glass
Why It’s Special
→ Depicts Nevada only three years after statehood and Utah Territory before its modern borders.
→ Original 19th-century impression with hand-coloring and Mitchell’s grape-vine border.
→ Created during America’s cartographic boom, when atlas publishers documented the country’s westward growth.
→ A museum-quality example of historical Americana — perfect for collectors, libraries, or refined interior design installations.