Cordova's map of Texas hammers for $149,000 in Dallas auction

A first edition copy of Jacob de Cordova's 1849 Map of the State of Texas has sold for $149,000 at Heritage Auctions.

It was the headline lot of a sale of Texana in Dallas on March 15.

Cordova was a newspaper magnate and land broker who aided the state of Texas in its war of independence from Mexico in 1835-1836.

Following the state's victory in the Battle of San Jacinto, he bought up large quantities of land in the new republic and went on a tour of the major American cities to convince people to settle there.

Map Texas HA Cordova
Cordova published his early map of texas in 1849

The hand coloured lithograph was created in 1849 and is one of only a few surviving copies. Its accuracy led to it becoming the earliest official map of the state.

Charles W Pressler's Map of the State of Texas was another highlight, achieving $81,250.

Pressler was a Prussian cartographer who worked alongside Cordova during his surveying missions and aided him in the completion of the 1849 map.  

This chart was compiled in 1858 and shows the locations of various colonies, Native American tribes, forts and railroads.

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