1895 Relief Map of Utah

47"x36"

This 36" x 47" illustrated 1895 relief map of Utah is a rare example of the application of the "birds-eye view" perspective mapping applied to an entire state in the late 1800s. Created in Utah by Mosiah Hall, the Superintendent of Weber County (Utah) Schools, with assistance from Charles Wright and Don Macguire, who apparently was the Chief of the Department of Mines exhibition at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Published by Pierce & McMillan (of Salt Lake City), this handsome map provides an immediately-accessible sense of the topography of the Beehive State, as though viewed from a balloon floating high above.

Relief and mountain ranges are rendered in fine horizontal line drawing throughout the map. Lakes, rivers, creeks, basins, minor and major mountain ranges, valleys, cliff bands, mountain peaks and other geographic features are labeled, as are cities and towns. Counties are labeled and outlined in red, and interestingly, mineral deposits are identified across the state and labeled in red text. It is uncertain exactly how Don Macguire got involved in the creation of the map, which was created "for the home, the office, and especially for schools," but clearly there was some vested interest in raising awareness of Utah's mineral resources.  

UnConformity has printed this elegant 'schoolhouse' state map on Arches BFK Rives 100% Cotton Rag paper, handmade at the Blanchet Frères & Kléber paper mill in Rives, France on a traditional cylinder paper mould. The pattern of the paper fibers is subtle here, yet faintly visible with oblique lighting. It accentuates the rich, vintage feel of the piece and gives it a little added depth without obscuring the details. Please be aware that challenges in scanning the original map sheets has resulted in faintly visible creases with minor misalignments and blurring in a few locations on the print. 

*NOTE: This is a it is a carefully crafted print of the highest quality, but it is not the original work.

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