1907 USGS Geologic Atlas Joplin District Missouri KS World Class Lead Zinc Mines

Description

Geologic Atlas of the
United States
Joplin District, Missouri - Kansas Folio No. 148
by
W. S. Tangier Smith and C. E. Siebenthal, United States Geological Survey; Charles D. Walcott, Director. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1907
First edition, first printing. Folio, library edition. 20 pp. plus 4 double page color lithograph maps (topographic, areal geology, economic geology and mine), single page mine map, and illustrations sheet. In original tan heavy paper wraps with original black cloth binding strip. Size: 18.5 x 21.75 inches. Map scale: 1 to 62,500. An early atlas of this famous mining district located in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas known then as one of the most highly productive sources of lead, zinc and other minerals in the world.
Old folio topographic and geologic maps form an important historical record of the physical and cultural features of the country as they existed and were named (and, in the case of geology, interpreted) over 100 years ago. These maps with accompanying explanatory text are among the earliest of the area surveyed by the USGS and often show a simpler, less well developed and sometimes surprising landscape than is familiar today. These old folios are long out of print and can make wonderful research or conversation pieces. Given the relative rarity of separately published early USGS topographic and geologic maps in the marketplace, the folio series generally offers the best source of maps available to the public for those fortunate enough to have a connection with the surveyed areas.
Condition: Complete. Wrappers have a few stray smudges, an old government ink stamp at the top center edge of the front wrap, and the folio number “148” written in pencil at the lower left corner. Interior text and map sheets are clean and unmarked. Overall, condition is very good.
Content: The Joplin District encompasses about a 476 square mile area. The topo sheet shows the surface physical (hills, rivers, lakes, etc.) and cultural features (buildings, farms, roads, railroads, towns, localities, ferries, etc.). Some of the named places shown in the map include: Towns: Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Carterville, Carl Junction, Galena, Baxter Springs, Alba, Waco, and other small localities. Street grids are shown for the denser, more developed cities and towns with some individual homes and buildings shown in less populated areas. Water bodies: Spring River, Center Creek, Shoal Creek and other smaller waterways and water bodies. Railroads: St. Louis an San Francisco; Kansas City Southern; Kansas City, Ft. Scott and Memphis; Missouri, Kansas and Texas; various electric lines, and possibly others.
The geologic map is attractively colored with multiple colors, patterns, shadings, tints, and/or hues used to illustrate the local geologic formations while mine maps list and show the names of hundreds of mines and extent of underground workings for various subdistricts.
In 1894, the USGS implemented a plan to prepare a geologic map of the US in the form of over 3,000 quadrangle atlas sheets issued individually in folio size. The essential parts of each folio were a description of the region surveyed, a topographic map, and an areal geologic map. Additional geologic map sheets and illustrations would be included as determined by the important economic and/or scenic characteristics found in the area. Of the over 3,000 folios planned, only 227 were ever issued before the series was discontinued in 1945. The majority of folios, such as the one offered for sale here, were issued in a library edition containing never-folded, single-sided maps printed on heavy paper with a highly calendared (glossy) surface. This surface was specifically chosen to give the best effects to the patterns and colors. These characteristics make the library edition the preferred choice for collectors and print sellers. Never-folded (and later folded) field editions were also issued but as a portfolio without calendared map surfaces.
Shipping: For reasons of size and fragility, your atlas will be shipped flat sandwiched between multiple sheets of new cardboard pads for best protection.