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The First Official Map of the State of New Jersey
Thomas Gordon's seminal map of the State of New Jersey, generally regarded as the most important map of New Jersey published in the 19th Century.
Thomas Gordon's official map of New Jersey is the first large format map of New Jersey published in the United States. In 1822, the New Jersey state legislature commissioned Thomas Gordon to compile and published an official state map. Six years later, in 1828, Gordon published this remarkable large wall map of the state, which was engraved by Henry S. Tanner, E.B. Dawson and W. Allen.
The map was advertised in the July to December 1827 edition of The Port Folio, Vol II of Hall's Second Series, at page 158-159, which states:
Thomas Gordon, Esq. of Trenton, proposes to publish by subscription, an accurate map of the state of New Jersey, with part of the adjoining states; this map is compiled from original materials, procured from the most authentic sources, and where these failed, they have been supplied by actual surveys, so that no reasonable expense or pains have been spared to render this map acceptable to the public. It is projected on a scale of three miles to an inch, forming a map of thirty-three by fifty-seven inches, on which is exhibited all the counties and townships in the state, with the waters, canals, roads, cities, towns, churches, mills, mountains, &e. in the most conspicuous manner; this work is now in the hands of a very skillful map engraver, and will be issued in October next.
Gordon's map was the product of the extensive local surveys and provided details of towns, rivers and lakes, and the state's road system. Gordon's map became the standard for accurate and detailed mapping of the state. Gordon and Tanner reissued a second edition in 1833. Thereafter, Robert E. Horner issued editions that were "revised, corrected and improved" in 1849, 50, 53 and 54, which were newly engraved by Edward Yeager.
Rarity
The 1833 edition of the map is quite rare, with OCLC listing only only two examples (Princeton and Rutgers).
