Large lithograph map of the railways of the United States. Approximately 30 x 41 3/4 inches sheet size, folds to about 6 1/2 x 5 inches. Original yellow-brown paper cover printed with period advertisements, front cover only, rear cover missing. Some chipping and paper loss to cover, map with some small splits along fold lines, overall good. Chicago: Rand McNally & Co, 1892.

William H. Rand opened his first printing shop in Chicago in 1856 and in 1858 hired a recently-arrived Irish immigrant, Andrew McNally, to work in his shop. In 1868, the two established the Rand McNally & Co. printing company, initially focused on printing timetables and tickets for the Chicago railroads as well as railroad guides. In 1870, they expanded into printing business directories and a newspaper. Their first map appeared in the December 1872 edition of their Railroad Guide, and their first road map was published in 1904.

This map, from 1892, showcases the state of the railway industry at the time. The majority of the country east of the Mississippi River, with the exception of the Florida coast, is densely populated with railway lines. As you travel west, there are many areas with few or no railroads. This is also the case in Alaska, Canada, and the West Indies.

Aside from the railway lines, the map also shows state and country borders, major cities and towns, military posts, Indian reservations and territories, and the Oklahoma Territory. As of May 2026, OCLC does not show any listings of this map and one holding of an 1898 version based on this map, with a different title.

Book ID: 53704

Price: $1,750.00