(PENNSYLVANIA) Moore [Joshua John]; and Thomas W Jones The T

Sale 2263 - Lot 224

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Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 10,000

(PENNSYLVANIA.) Moore, [Joshua John]; and Thomas W. Jones. The Traveller's Directory, or a Pocket Companion: Shewing the Course of the Main Road from Philadelphia to New York, and from Philadelphia to Washington. 38 maps on 22 plates. 8vo, later cloth-backed boards, moderate wear; moderate dampstaining and toning on first few leaves, a few map numbers cropped, minor foxing. With half-title. Philadelphia, 1802

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first edition of "one of the earliest guides"--Howes M778 ("aa"). Preceded by only one other book of American road maps, the "Survey of the Roads of the United States" by Colles.
Moore and Jones begin their work with a detailed 17-page description of Philadelphia, followed by shorter descriptions of New York and Washington and the towns en route in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. It concludes with the detailed route maps, which were engraved from original surveys and show cross streets, topographical features, and individual buildings. The project was commissioned by publisher Mathew Carey, and proved to be a difficult undertaking. The surveyors wrote to Carey in 1801: "After twelve days driving our way through an immense multitude of Questioners, Observers, laughers, & Critics, who generally thronged us at every place . . . it has nearly exhausted our health, as every violent effort naturally must" (quoted in Felcone, New Jersey Books, 886). Felcone describes the map depicting Manhattan as being new to the second edition, but it does appear in this copy of the first edition. Sabin 50436; Streeter sale VII:3969.