IV. Pocket Treasures

Simultaneous with the production of folio atlases and geographies was the emergence of a “pocket” genre, often produced by the same cartographers or publishers (14, 15). This product was both portable and relatively inexpensive (12) in comparison to the size and price of a full-sized atlas. Often these were aimed at a specific market niche (16) or were focused on a particular geographical region (13, 17). The format could be elegant in presentation (19) or severely plain (14). The detail could be exquisite (18) or could perpetuate gross geographical errors (15). The improvement of roads and other modes of travel in the eighteenth century created a market for books that dealt with practical rather than “arm-chair” geographic knowledge. Initially, the demand was for information on turnpikes and market days (20), then for stage coaches and canals (21), and in the nineteenth century for steamship and railroad lines (22, 23, 25). A change in binding style from tooled morocco to functional wallet (26) indicated the utilitarian purpose. These volumes present a fine primary source for research in the infrastructural development of many areas. As the nineteenth century progressed, a class of authors emerged who were neither cartographers nor geographers but rather professional guide book writers, offering practical and reliable information based on direct experience. Their works were issued frequently in updated editions for the convenience of travelers (22, 24, 27).

The Select Atlas for the Use of Schools

map/2170.0008

William Murphy
Scottish, fl. 1820-1825
The Select Atlas for the Use of Schools
Edinburgh: Alexander Macredie, ca. 1820
Smith Collection


A Plan of the City and Castle of Edinburg

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John Rocque
Huguenot, working in Britain, d. 1762
A Plan of the City and Castle of Edinburg
Copper engraving, hand-colored with water color, 10.5 x 19cm
In: A Collection of Plans of the Principal Cities; of Great Britain and Ireland: with Maps of the Coast of the Said Kingdoms (London, A. Dury, 1764)
Smith Collection


[titlepage] In: Carey's American Pocket Atlas

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Mathew Carey
American, 1760-1839
[titlepage]
In: Carey's American Pocket Atlas (Philadelphia: Mathew Carey, 1796)
Smith Collection


New Mexico. In: Atlas Minimus or A Book of Geography

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John Seller
English, d. 1697
New Mexico
Copper engraving, 9.5 x 5.5cm
In: Atlas Minimus or A Book of Geography (London, 1679)
Smith Collection


Versailles. In: Géographie des dames ou almanach géographique-historique

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J. J. Pasquier
French, fl. 1750-1770
Louis Denis
French, 1725-1794
Versailles
Copper engraving, hand-colored with water color, 9 x 10.5cm
In: Géographie des dames ou almanach géographique-historique (Paris: J. J. Pasquier and L. Denis, 1762)
Smith Collection


Plano de Lima

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Tomás Lopez de Vargas Machuca
Spanish, 1730-1802
Plano de Lima
Copper engraving, 11.5 x 8cm
In: Atlas Geographico de la America. Septentrional y Meridional (Madrid: Antonio Sang, 1758)
Smith Collection


Hollande. In: Atlas classique universel de géographie ancienne et moderne (Paris: Journal de Connaissances Utiles

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Victor Levasseur
French, fl.1835-1845
Hollande
Copper engraving, outline color, 12 x 8.5cm
In: Atlas classique universel de géographie ancienne et moderne (Paris: Journal de Connaissances Utiles, 1835), pl. 43
Smith Collection


[Frontispiece]. In: Atlas Géographique contenant la Mappemonde et les quatre Parties, avec les differents Estats d'Europe

map/1950.0012

Giovanni Antonio Rizzi-Zannoni
Italian, ca. 1736-1814
[titlepage and frontispiece]
In: Atlas Géographique contenant la Mappemonde et les quatre Parties, avec les differents Estats d'Europe (Paris: Lattré, 1762)
Smith Collection


Cumberland and Cornwall

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John Cary
English, ca. 1754-1835
Cumberland and Cornwall
Two copper engravings, both hand-colored with water color, and both 14 x 9.5cm
In: Cary's Traveller's Companion, or a Delineation of the Turnpike Roads of England And Wales (London, [1792])
Smith Collection


The Tourist, or Pocket Manual for Travellers on the Hudson River, the Western Canal and Stage Road to Niagra Falls

map/4544.0015

Robert J. Vandewater
American, fl. 1830-1840
The Tourist, or Pocket Manual for Travellers on the Hudson River, the Western Canal and Stage Road to Niagra Falls. 3d edition
New York: Harper & Bro., 1834
Smith Collection


The Picturesque Tourist and Handy Guide Round the World

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Edward Hepple Hall
American, fl. 1860-1880
Map of the Kansas Pacific Railway
Relief print, 5 x 15cm
Brisbane in 1872
London: Maclure & Macdonald
Chromo-lithograph, 16 x 62.5cm
In: The Picturesque Tourist and Handy Guide Round the World (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1878)
Smith Collection


Phelps' Travelers' Guide Through the United States

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Humphrey Phelps
American, fl. 1840-1860
Phelps' Travelers' Guide Through the United States . . . Accompanied with a New Map. 2d edition
New York: Ensign, Thayer, & Co., 1851
Osher Collection


[Admiralty, Horse Guards]. In: Cruchley's New Picture of London

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George Frederick Cruchley
English, fl. 1831-1867
[Admiralty, Horse Guards]
In: Cruchley's New Picture of London, 9th edition (London: G. F. Cruchley, 1844)
Howard Collection


[views of Maine]. In: The Illustrated Hand-book, a New Guide for Travelers Through the United States of America

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John Cavin Smith
American, fl. 1839-1862
[views of Maine]
In: The Illustrated Hand-book, a New Guide for Travelers Through the United States of America (New York: Sherman & Smith, 1847), 14-15
Osher Collection


The Traveller's Directory Through the United States

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John Melish
American, 1771-1822
The Traveller's Directory Through the United States. 5th edition
Philadelphia: John Melish 1819
Osher Collection


Pompei. In: Southern Italy and Sicily

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Baedeker Firm
German, ca.1840-present
Pompei
Color lithograph, 20 x 14.5cm
In: Southern Italy and Sicily (Leipzig: Baedeker Firm,1912)
Howard Collection