[BOUNDARY LINE]. GRAY, Andrew Belcher. “Explanatory Report of A.B. Gray of His Proceedings while a Member of the ‘United States Mexican Boundary Commission,’ Appointed to Run and Mark the Boundary Line under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,” in Report of the Secretary of the Interior, in Compliance with a Resolution of the Senate, of January 22, Communicating a Report and Map of A. B. Gray, Relative to the Mexican Boundary. [Washington, 1855]. [1] 2-50, 2 folded maps. 8vo (23 x 15 cm), modern brown sheep over brown cloth, spine gilt lettered. Slightly rubbed. Interior with scattered light foxing, large map with tear at the text block; otherwise fine. Thomas W. Streeter’s copy with his bookplate and copious notes on front free endpaper. Rare in commerce; only three copies at auction in the last thirty years.

Maps

[1] That Part of Disturnell’s Treaty Map in the Vicinity of the Rio Grande and Southern Boundary of Mexico as Referred to by U.S. Surveyor, in Communication to Commissioner, July 23 1851. Ackerman Lith 379 Broadway NY. 27 x 29.5 cm. Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West 820* & 839.

[2] Map of that Portion of the Boundary between the United States and Mexico from the Pacific Coast to the Junction of the Gila and Colorado Rivers, Surveyed under the Direction of Hon. John B. Weller U.S. Commissioner, and the Rio Gila from Near Its Intersection, with the Southern Boundary of New Mexico, Surveyed under the Direction of John R. Bartlett Esq. U.S. Commissioner; All in Accordance with the Decision of the Joint Commn and Conformably to the Treaty of Guad. Hildago; Showing also the Limits of the Territory Acquired under the Treaty Negotiated by the Hon. James Gadsden, U.S. Minister at the City of Mexico, 1854.... Ackerman Lith. 379 Broadway N.Y. [inset map lower left] Sketch of the Port of San Diego Surveyed by the U.S. Boundary Commission in the 1849 and 1850.... [inset below] Profile of Country from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of California and from the Rio Grande to the Junction of the Gila and Colorado Rivers [inset at lower left] Table of Reference. Harlow, Maps of the Pueblo Lands of San Diego 20. Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West #821* & 840, Vol. 3, pp. 238-239: “Elaborate work, clearly a major performance, with much topography appearing, and an insert of the port of San Diego, surveyed in 1849-1850.”

First edition (33rd Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Ex. Doc 55). Braislin 825. Graff 1625. Harlow, Maps of the Pueblo Lands of San Diego 1602-1874 20. Howes G330. Meisel III, p. 100. Munk (Alliott) p. 90. Plains & Rockies IV:254. Sabin 28376. Streeter Sale 488. Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West 820, 821, 839, 840 & III, pp. 238-40.

Although Gray spends a lot of ink complaining about Commissioner Bartlett and his disputes with him over the boundary line, this is a crucial report concerning the final shape of the United States, including the initial difficulties over the proper location of El Paso. The maps show the definitive boundaries as established by all the treaties with Mexico and are far more important than the text.