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Description

Fine separately issued large format map of Idaho and western Wyoming, prepared by the Hayden Survey in 1872.

Wheat describes the map as:

On a scale of 5 miles to the inch, and with topography rendered by brushwork, this is evidently the original from which was made the engraved version . . . published in Hayden's Sixth Annual Report. The map was lithographed, and we are at a loss to explain why a reduced version replaced it in the Report. In a very attractive way, it shows the country from Fort Hall to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and as far east as the upper Yellowstone River.

The extraordinary detail shows the route of the Surveyor's Party as shown in the Western part of the map. The Continental Divide is located, and a number of annotations are shown. The map locates the various Geyser Basins in the region.

The Stage Road to Virginia City is shown in the west, as is the Stage Road from Corinne to Virginia City.

While the reduced size version (11 x 10 inches) appears on the market occasionally, this enlarged version is quite rare, this being the second example we have offered for sale in over 20 years.

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden Biography

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, known to the Sioux as "man-who-picks-up-stones-running," stands among the pantheon of eminent geologists of the 19th century.

Hayden's academic career commenced at Oberlin College, and he furthered his education at Albany Medical College, where he received his M.D. in 1853. Despite his medical training, Hayden was primarily engaged in geology, a field to which he would dedicate his life's work.

Hayden commenced his geological career with a survey in the Nebraska Territory in 1856. In 1859 and 1860, he conducted further exploratory work in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado, which was then part of the Nebraska and Kansas territories. His early work in the field earned him the respect of Native American tribes, with the Sioux reportedly dubbing him "man-who-picks-up-stones-running" due to his avid and energetic collection of geological samples during his expeditions.

By the 1860s, Hayden had risen to prominence as a geologist and was appointed the United States Geologist for the Geological Survey of the Territories. This role would define his career, leading numerous surveys in the Western United States. Notably, from 1871 to 1872, Hayden led a survey into the region that would become Yellowstone National Park, and his reports significantly contributed to the establishment of Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872.

Hayden's most significant contribution to geological literature was the Geological Atlas of Colorado, published in 1877. This work was the result of comprehensive surveys conducted across Colorado, meticulously documenting the state's geography and geology. The atlas offered detailed maps on a scale previously unseen, encompassing not only Colorado but adjacent areas, including parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Hayden's influence extended to academia, as he was affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania for a period, where he held the position of professor of geology. His academic and field work combined to form a substantial body of knowledge that would be used by future scholars and explorers.

Ferdinand V. Hayden passed away on December 22, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His enduring legacy is reflected in the numerous natural features named after him, including Hayden Valley in Yellowstone and Mount Hayden in Colorado. His contributions to geology during the 19th century remain a cornerstone of American geological and geographical sciences.