Osgood Carleton Wall Map, ca. 1806
Appraised Value:
$5,000 - $6,000
IMAGE: 1 of 2
Appraisal Video: ()
Appraised By:
Christopher Lane
Prints & Posters
Co-Owner
The Philadelphia Print Shop
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: I've had them probably since the late '50s. A girlfriend that I had at the time, her father gave them to me. I don't remember if he was throwing them out or why he just happened to give them to me and I was kind of surprised, because the one you chose was really in the worst condition of the three.
APPRAISER: Yes, that is true, but the reason for that is because it is the earliest of the three. Wall maps are amongst the rarest maps, because they hung on walls. Water would get them, people would point at them and tear at them, things like that. Wall maps really came around in the middle of the 19th century. This one is even earlier than that. And it's because it's so early, especially for an American wall map, that it has the real interest. This is, in fact, one of the earliest wall maps of the United States. And it was done by a man named Osgood Carleton. And Osgood Carleton was the first professional American cartographer, and did a number of maps, including, in 1791, a wonderful wall map of the United States. He then updated it later. And this is from the updated map. This is 1806. His information, especially in New England, which is where he studied and where he did most of his work, is very, very detailed, very up-to-date. But what's interesting for collectors is the frontier. And the frontier is more over in this area at that time. And that's what people are interested in. You add that to the fact that being a wall map from that early a date, it's very, very rare. Now, condition. Obviously a really big issue with this map.
GUEST: Yeah, yeah.
APPRAISER: It is fixable. You are missing some surface. If you look up in this area especially--
GUEST: Right. Yeah.
APPRAISER: --where it's gotten worn, but there's really not much printed information. You've got areas like this, but I think those can probably be put back down. Now, value. In this kind of condition, it would actually be hard to sell. If I had to sell it in this condition, I'd probably put $5,000 to $6,000. If you fix it up, and that would probably cost you maybe $1,500 to $2,000 tops, it's worth at least $8,000 to $10,000, possibly over $10,000, depending on how it comes. Now, if it was in perfect shape, you're talking about maybe $16,000 map.
GUEST: Wow, I had no idea. (both laughing) I'm floored. (laughing) I almost didn't bring it.
APPRAISER: Well... Well, I'm really pleased you did. (laughing)
