1890s MAPS OF NEW ORLEANS & South to MISS RIVER DELTA 5 US Geological Survey 1/62,500 Topographic Maps Start Price USD 75.00 Current Price USD 75.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 03, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Location Port Republic, MD See more about '1890s MAPS OF NEW ORLEANS & South to MISS RIVER DELTA' Description Five Original U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Topographic maps of New Orleans, Louisana and the area along the Mississippi river south of the city through St. Bernard parish, Jefferson Parish, Plaquemines Parish, Quarantine, and on to the Mississippi River Delta.  These maps were originally surveyed and published in the 1890s by the USGS and these are USGS reprints from the first 5 years of the 20th century.  Most importantly, the survey used for making these maps were completed in the late 1880s or early 1890s and not updated for publication.  So, these maps represent a "snapshot" of the lower Mississippi River and ithe adjacent human culturan imprint as of about 120 years ago.  These maps are an excellent research tool as they include valuable information about this historic area.  Also, given the maps historical status as an artifact of a bygone era this map they are eminently suited for framing and display.  These topographic maps show physical features by use of contour lines and shading as well as symbols to represent some features.  Cultural and economic features such as towns, schools, churches, cemetaries, farms, some factories, mines, harbors, political boundaries, etc. are also depicted, as well as lines of communication (roads, railroads, etc.).  Since settlement in this area in the late 19th century, outside of New Orleans proper, was so sparse the maps show individual houses and principal outbuildings as well in areas outside of immediate town or village boundaries. Water bodies such as the ocean, bays, sounds, channels, rivers, creeks, brooks, ponds, swamps, are also depicted and show the extent of water coverage and or coastal features.  During this age of mapmaking the original plates were hand-engraved.  All of the maps except the West Delta sheet measure 16 1/2" X 20" and are in scale 1/62,500.  All of the maps are marked with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation stamp with the word DISCARD over that in blue as pictured below.  A list of the individual maps and the principal cultural, economic, and physical features depicted follows:       -- NEW ORLEANS sheet, surveyed 1890, published in 1891, this sheet a 1903 USGS reprint.  Place names and features include: Mississippi River, Algiers, Gretna, MacDonoughville, Westwego, Kermerville, Arabi, Lake Cataouatche, Amesville, Bayou Barataria, La Branche Canal, Bayou des Familles, Lake Salvador, Bayor Couba Island, Jefferson Parish, Ft. Jackson and Grand Isle railroad Southern Pacific railroad, Texas and Pacific RR, Chicago St. Louis and New Orleans railroad, and numerous other place names and features too numerous to mention.  This map is in good condition with significant edge wear to the right side with a section missing of the edge and margin.  There are a couple edge tears of about 1/2" at the bottom and the map is also slightly darkened in color as tho it laid in sunlight for an extended period.      -- ST. BERNARD sheet, surveyed in 1890, published in 1892, this is a 1905 reprint and, as stated above, there original 1890 survey was used in compiling this map with no updates. Place names and features include: Reggeo, English Town, St. Clair, Dalcour, New Orleans and Gulf railroad (Shell Beach branch), Poydras, Toca, Plaquemines, Lake Lery, Bayor Terre Aux Boeuf, Mississipi River, Lake Borgne, Lake Borgne Canal, Battery Bienvenue, and others.  Map condition is very good with just one tear at the bottom and a very small bit of the lower left corner is missing.      -- PT. A. LA. HACHE sheet, surveyed in 1891, published in 1892, reprinted in 1898.  Place names and features include: Savoie, Harlem, Magnolia, Bohemia, City Price, Myrtle Grove, St. Sophie, Deer Range, Cheniere Bayou, Round Bay, Poverty Point, Point A LA Hache, Grand Lake, River Aux Chenes, Lake Hermitage, Jefferson Parish, Plaquemines Parish, Mississippi River, and others.  Map is in very good condition with wear confined to the bottom edge where there are some tears and minor creases to the margin, one small section missing of 1/4" X 2" along the bottom edge and two small triangle-shaped sections of about 1/4" and 1/2".  All of these tears, etc., will be covered by matting when framed.      -- QUARANTINE SHEET, surveyed in 1891, published in 1892, reprinted in April of 1906.  Place names and features include: Point Pleasant, Grand Prarie, Devils Flats, Tropical Bend, Buran Settlement, Augusta Bay, Little Texas Guyot Settlement, 60 mile Point, Grand Bayou, Mississippie River, Quarantine Bay, California Bay, Bay Chaland, Bastian Island, Chaland Pass, Numerous Bayous too numerous to mention, Gulf of Mexico, Shell Island Bay, Bastion Bay, Bay Joe Wise, Auguste Bay, Cox Bay, Skip Jack Bay, Bay Pompadour, Bay Jacquin, and others.  This map is in very good condition with only slight edge wear to the bottom edge.      -- WEST DELTA SHEET, surveyed in 1891, published in 1893, reprinted in 1904, folded at bottom so map measures 16 1/2" X 22".  Extra length is needed to accomodate the total length of the Mississippi River delta in this area.  Place names and features include: Scott Canal, Old Light Tower, Southwest Pass Light, Grand Pass, Red Pass, Spanish Pass, Bay Jaques, Williams Pass, Plaquemines, Main Pass, Southwest Pass, Double Bayou, East Bay, West Bay, Tiger Pass, Custom House, Pilot Lookout, East Jetty Light, West Jetty Light, Head Of Passes Light, and more.  This map is in very good condition, marked as shown like the rest, only wear is the fold which is part of published version and a tear across this bottom portion (pictures below).  Please see my other auctions for the additional maps of this area, all dating to the 1890s, to the east and south of New Orleans.Maps will be shipped rolled in a tube via USPS Media Mail insured, high bidder pays shipping. 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