Map of a portion of the Sierra Nevada adjacent to the Yosemite Valley from surveys made by Chs. F. Hoffmann and J. T. Gardner, 1863-1867. Scale 2 miles to 1 inch. N.p., n.d. [1874?]. "Geological Survey of California / J. D. Whitney, State Geologist" at head of title. Large lithographed map, 52 x 76.5 cm (20 1/2 x 30 inches), printed on heavy paper with no folds. Rare, separately issued version of the map better-known from its publication of The Yosemite Book (1868). Warren Heckrotte comments, "This differs from that with the same title published in the Yosemite Book, 1868. There are additions and changes in this copy: trails and place names have been added, and the region around Hetch-Hetchy has been re-mapped. The smaller scale version of this map in the 1874 issue of the Yosemite Book also has these changes ... This and the map of Yosemite Valley [also in The Yosemite Book] are the first maps of high mountains based on triangulation made in the western hemisphere." Carl Wheat, in Mapping the Transmississippi West, devotes several pages to and illustrates the map as published in the book: "Generally speaking, this map covers a part of the Sierra extending from Mono Lake in the northeast corner to the Mariposa Estate in the southwest corner -- principally, the basins of the Tuolumne and Merced rivers ..." He names various mountains identified, and notes that two hotels are located in Yosemite Valley. The map is further discussed in California 49, where this map is reproduced, calling it "The first large scale map of a mountain region prepared in the United States ..." Wheat, Mapping the Trans- Mississippi West 1194. California 49, map 38 (reproducing this copy). Margin has small chips at two corners and another at top edge, fine. Provenance: R. Pearce to Warren Heckrotte in February 1992. (#165132).
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