Continental United States, Historic Map by Melish, 1816; Lovely Antique Repro

This is a museum-grade reproduction of John Melish's remarkable 1816 Map of the United States. The map influences boundary disputes and treaties through most of the 19th century, and is regarded as one of the most significant maps in American history. It is the first map made in the United States that showed the country extending across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. A visual embodiment of Manifest Destiny, the map boldly proclaimed American ambitions before actual events made such aspirations possible. This map was made by John Melish in 1816. John Melish (1771-1822) was a Scottish merchant who moved to Philadelphia in 1811 and became a professional mapmaker. More than any other contemporary, Melish became attuned to the aspirational sentiments of his adopted country and he graphically depicted and interpreted the young nation's geographical identity to the world. This 1816 map remains one of America's most important works of visual culture.