Original hand-drawn manuscript map of Oregon and Washington Territory, dated June 23, 1873 and signed “S. M. Curwen.”
The map measures approximately 6½ x 8¼ inches and was drawn by hand in ink over graphite. Faint original pencil construction and drafting lines remain visible beneath the finished ink work, providing a fascinating look at how the map was laid out and produced.
Research indicates that the signature is most plausibly attributable to Samuel Moore Curwen (1859–1932). Born in 1859, Curwen would have been approximately 14 years old when this map was completed, making its appearance and construction consistent with a 19th-century student geography or cartography exercise.
Samuel Moore Curwen later became a prominent figure in American transportation and industry, including serving as President of the J. G. Brill Company, one of the leading American manufacturers of streetcars and railway equipment.
The attribution has been researched through comparison with documented later examples of Samuel M. Curwen’s signature. Similarities can be seen in the formation and movement of the signatures, although nearly five decades separate this 1873 manuscript from the later examples. The attribution is therefore presented as research-based and not as a professionally authenticated identification.
DETAILS:
• Date: June 23, 1873
• Signed: S. M. Curwen
• Subject: Oregon and Washington Territory
• Size: Approximately 6½ x 8¼ inches
• Medium: Ink over graphite on paper
• Original hand-drawn manuscript — not a printed map
• Visible graphite drafting/construction lines
• Research documentation and signature comparison included
CONDITION:
Original unrestored antique condition with expected age toning, folds/creases and handling wear consistent with a manuscript more than 150 years old. Please examine all photographs carefully as they are an important part of the condition description.
An unusual surviving example of 19th-century manuscript cartography and education, made particularly interesting by the possible connection to the young Samuel Moore Curwen decades before his later career in American transportation and industry.
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