1861 "The Empire State" Wall Map by Ensign, Bridgman & Fanning

This large and decorative wall map of New York, titled "The Empire State," was published by Ensign, Bridgman & Fanning. The map was published in 1861, the first year of the Civil War. The map is hand colored, with state and county outlines. The bordering states of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont are not colored. The elaborate surrounding decorative border gives a snapshot of the state and it's history during the mid 19th century. The left column provides text pertaining to  New York state history, boundary lines, geology, and forestry.  On the right, a column of text explains the state's current laws, including voting procedures divided by race, rights of men and married women in the state, the procedures for the collection of debts, wills, and deeds, as well as homestead exemptions. Vignettes of Henry Hudson, Portage Falls, and statistics from the 1860 census also populate the map. At upper right is an inset with an artistic rendering of the New York State se