John Disturnell. The Great Lakes, or Inland Seas of America . . . A Complete Guide for the Traveller and Immigrant. New York: Charles Schribner, 1863. Small octavo. [i]-viii, -192. 6 full page wood engraved scenes plus many throughout the text. Folding map. Bound in publisher’s blue cloth with gold stamping. Very nice condition. Ref.: Howes, D357.
This fine book shows rail and steam routes using a large map, views and textual descriptions to illustrate all five of the North American Great Lakes at the time of the Civil War. The fine map focuses on the Straits of Mackinaw from which concentric circles are drawn out for 300 miles. The map extends to western Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri to the west and all of New England to the east. To the south is included Richmond, Va., Louisville, Ky., Kaskaskia, Il., and Fremont, Mo. “Map of the Lake Region, St. Lawrence Valley and
Surrounding Country.” Lithograph. 13 1/4 x 24 1/2 (neatlines) plus full borders. Folding with a few
corner joints with small breaks. Else excellent.
Howes describes the book as with 162 pages, so he does not account for the added 30 pages of fascinating advertising for transportation and hotels, many with illustrations in this copy. A fine and scarce American guide book and map.