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Original 1873 Hand-Drawn Manuscript Map
Signed “S. M. Curwen” – June 23, 1873
Offered is an original hand-drawn manuscript map of Oregon and Washington Territory, executed in ink with visible graphite underdrawing and dated June 23, 1873. The map measures approximately 6½ x 8¼ inches and is signed “S. M. Curwen” in the lower right corner.
Unlike printed maps of the period, this is an original manuscript work created by hand. Visible pencil construction lines remain beneath the ink, illustrating the drafting process and supporting its origin as a 19th-century educational geography exercise.
Research strongly suggests the signature is that of Samuel Moore Curwen (1859–1932) of Philadelphia. Born in 1859, Curwen would have been approximately 14 years old when this map was drawn. He later became President of the J. G. Brill Company, America’s leading manufacturer of streetcars and interurban railway equipment, and served as a director of numerous corporations, on bank boards, and as a trustee of Drexel Institute and Jefferson Medical College.
The attribution is supported by:
* Matching name and timeline
* Comparison with verified later signatures appearing on 1921 J. G. Brill Company stock certificates
* Consistent handwriting characteristics, allowing for the natural development of a signature over nearly five decades
This represents what is believed to be an early student manuscript created decades before Curwen’s later prominence in American industry.
Details
* Date: June 23, 1873
* Dimensions: Approx. 6½ x 8¼ inches
* Medium: Ink over graphite on paper
* Signed: S. M. Curwen
* Condition: Original unrestored condition with age toning, light folds, and expected handling wear. Visible graphite guide lines remain beneath the ink. Please review all photographs carefully.
A scarce and intriguing piece combining 19th-century educational history, manuscript cartography, and early American industrial biography. Original signed manuscript works attributable to identifiable historical figures from their youth seldom appear on the market.
Certificate of Provenance and signature comparison documentation will be included with the sale.
