About this sheet
American Civil War “Seat of War” Map, Published Just After Bull Run, 1861
An important and highly detailed original map published at the outbreak of the American Civil War, showing the principal theatre of conflict across the eastern United States.
Published by Edward Stanford in London on August 21, 1861, only a few months after the beginning of hostilities, the map extends from the Great Lakes and southern Canada through the Union and Confederate states to the Atlantic seaboard. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland and the surrounding regions are shown in considerable detail, with state boundaries picked out in original hand coloring.
Issued specifically in response to the rapidly developing American conflict, the map is titled “Stanford’s Map of the Seat of War in America.” Its early publication date makes it a fascinating contemporary European cartographic record of the Civil War at a moment when the eventual course and outcome of the conflict remained entirely uncertain.
What makes this map extra interesting?
Published in London on August 21, 1861, only a month after the First Battle of Bull Run, this map offers a fascinating contemporary view of the American Civil War at its very beginning. Rather than being conceived simply as a general map of the United States, Stanford specifically issued it as a “Map of the Seat of War in America,” allowing a British audience to follow the rapidly developing conflict across the Union, Confederate and strategically important border states. Particular emphasis is placed on Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Tennessee, regions that would become central to the war. Its remarkably early date, original hand coloring and practical linen-backed folding format make it an evocative cartographic document produced while the eventual course and outcome of the Civil War were still entirely unknown.
Lithographed, with original hand coloring, the map was designed for practical use and folds into sections mounted on linen. The survival of this format, together with the visible fold structure, gives the piece considerable historical character.
Publisher: Edward Stanford
Title: Stanford’s Map of the Seat of War in America
Place of Publication: London
Date: August 21, 1861
Medium: Lithograph with original hand coloring, folding and mounted on linen
Dimensions: Approximately 71.5 x 61.3 cm (28.1 x 24.1 inches)
Condition:
Good antique condition consistent with age and use. Folding in sections and mounted on linen as issued. General toning, soiling, mottling, handling marks and wear are present, with some discoloration along the folds and margins. Please examine the photographs carefully for the condition and contact us if you would like a more detailed condition report.
This is an original antique map published in 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are for presentation and inspiration only.
Keywords:
American Civil War map, Civil War map 1861, Stanford map, Edward Stanford, Seat of War in America, American Civil War, Confederate States, Union States, Virginia Civil War, Pennsylvania map, Maryland map, Kentucky map, Tennessee map, antique United States map, 19th century American map, Civil War cartography, military history map, folding map, linen backed map, original hand colored map, antique Americana
