J. H. Colton | |
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| Born | Joseph Hutchins Colton (1800-07-05)July 5, 1800 |
| Died | July 29, 1893(1893-07-29) (aged 93) |
| Known for | Cartography |
Joseph Hutchins Colton (July 5, 1800 – July 29, 1893), founded an Americanmapmaking company which was an international leader in themap publishing industry between 1831 and 1890.[1]
Colton was born inLongmeadow, Massachusetts, and moved to New York in 1831 to establish his firm.[2] For the first ten years, Colton licensed the use of maps from establishedcartographers[2] such asDavid H. Burr. Colton also employed some of the preeminent engravers of the time, including Burr, Samuel Stiles, John Disturnell and D. Griffing Johnson. Colton went on to create railroad maps, immigrant guides, folding pocket maps, large wall maps, and elaborateatlases.
J.H. Colton Company maps were printed using engraved steel plates, which produced higher quality prints than maps made with less costly wax engravings. They were often individually handwatercolored[3]and were recognized for their decorative borders.[2]
In the early 1850s Colton brought his two sons into the business, George Woolworth Colton (1827–1901) and Charles B. Colton (1832–1916).[1]
In 1857, Colton was awarded a $25,000 commission by the Government ofBolivia to produce 2500 large maps of the country. Colton completed the contract, but was not paid by Bolivia, which was mired in revolution. Colton pursued a high-profile legal case against the Bolivian andPeruvian governments and after considerable delay was awarded $100,000 in compensation and damages.[4]
In 1859, Colton published aHand-book to Kansas Territory and the Rocky Mountains' Gold Region; accompanied by reliable maps and a preliminary treatise on the pre-emption laws of the United States, byJames Redpath and Richard J. Hinton.
Maps published by J.H. Colton can be found in the historicalarchives of most of the U.S. states, (includingMississippi,Louisiana, andMaryland) and of many national governments (including the United StatesLibrary of Congress[2]). They are also found in university and museum collections (including atUniversity of Kansas,University of Texas, andPrinceton University).[5]
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